Bellevue Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Abandonment Issues and Neglect
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and loss Counseling
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Personal Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • PTSD
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sex And Porn Addiction
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Christian Counseling for Children
        and Teens
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Marriage Counseling
    • Sex And Porn Addiction
  • LocationsChoose from our variety of office locations
    • Bellevue Office FrontBellevue
    • Bothell Office Front EntranceBothell
    • Edmonds Christian CounselingEdmonds
    • Everett Office Front EntranceEverett
    • Federal Way Office FrontFederal Way
    • Hansville
    • Kent 2Kent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • LaceyLacey
    • Mill Creek Office Waiting RoomMill Creek
    • Monroe
    • Oak Harbor Office OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    • Puyallup Christian CounselingPuyallup
    • Redmond OfficeRedmond
    • Seattle Downtown OfficeSeattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake 2Seattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Tacoma Office FrontTacoma
    • Spokane ValleySpokane Valley
    • Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind the best counselor for your needs
  • CareersBecome an affiliated Christian counselor
  • (425) 939-6856Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Emotional Abuse Definition, Signs, Symptoms and Treatments

Bellevue Christian Counseling
https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/emotional-abuse-definition-signs-symptoms-and-treatments-2.jpg 300 200
https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/bellevue.jpg
https://bellevuechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cropped-cropped-seattle-logo.png
330 112th Ave NE, Suite 302
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
United States
330 112th Ave NE, Suite 302
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
United States
Bellevue Christian Counseling
Mar
2017
20

Emotional Abuse Definition, Signs, Symptoms and Treatments

Christian Counselor Seattle

CodependencyIndividual CounselingMen's IssuesSexual AbuseWomen's Issues
landscape-2091671_1280Emotional abuse is insidious. It isn’t always obvious at first – it can start with simple comments made by a partner or friend. “Why do you always do that wrong?” or “Engage your brain, why don’t you?” are a couple of the myriad examples of emotional abuse. Unlike physical or sexual abuse that is easily identifiable, emotional abuse is not. The victim of emotional abuse may not even recognize it as abuse. They may develop unhealthy coping skills to reduce the stress.

Emotional abusers use it to control another person, often in an attempt to feel better about themselves. Because they may have been the victim of this type of abuse as children, they haven’t learned good coping skills and use abusive language and behaviors as a way to control others.

Emotional Abuse Definition

What is emotional abuse? One definition of emotional abuse is: “any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilization, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth” (www.healthplace.com).

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

Wikipedia gives this description: Psychological abuse (also referred to as psychological violence, emotional abuse or mental abuse) is a form of abuse, characterized by a person subjecting, or exposing another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Such abuse is often associated with situations of power imbalance, such as abusive relationships, bullying, gaslighting, and abuse in the workplace.

clouds-2085112_1280As you can see, there is a whole spectrum of issues that are associated with emotional abuse. If you’ve felt abandoned or ignored by your partner, if you are made to feel crazy, if he/she makes fun of you in public or makes remarks about you that diminish you somehow – these are all signs of emotional abuse.

Signs of Emotional Abuse

Below are 15 signs of emotional abuse. This is just a partial list of the ways that your partner, friend, or family member can make you feel unloved or unworthy:

  • The abuser uses put downs and demeaning remarks to humiliate you in public; pointing out embarrassing moments and telling others that you are always doing things like that is one sign.
  • They use sarcasm to hurt you or make you feel bad about yourself. When you express hurt, they call it “teasing” or claim you are too sensitive.
  • They correct your behavior.
  • They try to control finances and won’t allow you to spend money except as they see fit.
  • They blame you for their problems or unhappiness. “If you were only… (fill in the blank), I would feel better,” etc.

dahlia-dahlia-174239_1280

  • They are unable to show empathy or compassion for you.
  • They will use the silent treatment, or disengage, making you feel abandoned, and then criticize your feelings.
  • They share private information about you with other people.
  • They are unable to apologize – often making excuses for their behavior and blaming others.
  • They repeatedly cross boundaries with no regard for your feelings.
  • They often see themselves as victims and blame you for their problems. They are unable to take responsibility for their behaviors.
  • They can withhold sex to manipulate.
  • They make subtle threats to scare you.
  • They are unable to laugh at themselves and cannot tolerate any appearance of lack of respect.
  • They are emotionally distant.

Often, people will stay in relationships with abusers hoping that they will change.  Change is difficult for abusers because these are learned behavioral habits and patterns of entitlement. They enjoy the power they get from the abuse, and, unless they want to change and actively seek help, the likelihood of any real change is minute.

sunset-2078408_1280Emotional abuse takes a huge toll on its victims – it can cause stress leading to anxiety, depression, and trauma. If allowed to continue, the victim can experience all kinds of physical illness as well.

It can’t be allowed to continue. That may mean ending the relationship with the abuser. No matter what, a licensed mental health counselor can help you to recognize the signs of abuse and to help you with decision making.

Photos
“Cavern Sunset,” courtesy of Hansbenn, pixabay.com, CC0 Public Domain License; “Clouds,” courtesy of qimono, pixabay.com, CC0 Public Domain License; “Dahlia,” courtesy of KreativeHexenkueche, pixabay.com, CC0 Public Domain License; “Sunset,” courtesy of sl-fotografie, pixabay.com, CC0 Public Domain License

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top

Other articles that might interest you...

Signs of Anxiety
Bellevue Christian Counseling

Signs of Anxiety

Oh, my goodness. I think I’m having anxiety attack. Today there are tons of ways that our minds go on...

continue reading »
spacer

spacer

Related Services

  • Codependency
  • Individual Counseling
  • Men's Issues
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Women's Issues
Bellevue Christian Counseling Logo
Bellevue Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors experienced in helping people of all ages find healing for a wide variety of issues.
© 2025 Bellevue Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
330 112th Ave NE,, Bellevue, WA 98004. Tel (425) 939-6856.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.