Healing from Emotional Abuse: Learning to Talk Again

Emotional Abuse is something most people don't understand, yet it's happening to them everyday. While we hear everyday about the constant physical abuse in America's homes, the sheer torture of emotional abuse is ignored...

Domestic violence takes many forms. There is of course, the physical abuse that we see everyday, whether it be on the news, in the paper or perhaps across the street. But emotional abuse happens even more. It happens in rich homes and it happens in poor homes.

The emotional abuser is much more smooth about it though. He/she will generally start out showering you with love, affection and gifts to "catch you". Slowly though, the abuser will begin the torture. It may start out so simple, as telling you are too beautiful to wear make up, or that if you wear that one thing you'll look inappropriate.

Eventually he/she will isolate your from your friends and family, and after that is when the torture truly begins. You will no longer be "allowed" to join activities or do anything independent from him/her that isn't "approved" of first.

Don't even think of speaking to someone of the opposite sex. If you do, you will likely be accused of having an affair and probably be called some terrible names.

Often times emotional abuse comes without any physical signs, so it's easy to "hide" from the outside world, yet do we ever really think about the things it is doing to us on the inside? Below is a simple list of the harmful things that can be caused by emotional abuse: (during and after the abuse)

- Loss of Self-Esteem

- Depression

- Anxiety

- Constant Fear

- Loss of Interest in once loved things

- Feeling of being un loved

These and many other mental and emotional problems can develop because of emotional abuse. The biggest question is, How do we pick up our boots and move on from this? How do we heal? Below are a few steps to help in the healing process.

1. Remove yourself from the abusive situation.

2. Surround yourself with people who truly love you and make you feel good about yourself.

3. Pick up a hobby or do things you once loved doing.

4. Get Out (to a safe environment) and meet new people.