Healing From Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse can take many forms, but it always feels horrible. If the wounds emotional abuse left were physical, many of us would be heavily scarred. Instead, you may carry the wounds of emotional abuse in the way you perceive yourself, the way you believe others see you, and your beliefs about how you deserve to be treated by others.
Especially if your emotional abuse began in childhood, you may question if you even deserve to be loved and treated well. Many survivors of emotional abuse were told lies such as, “You deserved it,” “What I say to you isn’t that bad,” “I’m only harsh with me because you make me so mad, and “It’s not abuse – I never hit you.”
Examples of Emotional Abuse
- Yelling, screaming and swearing
- Name-calling and belittling
- Deliberate causing distress, humiliation or fear
- Threats of violence
- Isolating a person
- Blaming victim for abusive behavior or actions
Often times, but not always, people who have been emotionally abused become emotionally abusive to others. This makes sense. If you have not been treated respectfully, it’s extremely difficult to know what healthy relationships even looks like. You may learn that it’s normal or even be encouraged to scream or “take out” your feelings on others in high stress situations. After years of being told you are a bad person, this belief may be deeply ingrained inside you.
Even if you don’t know how to get their on your own, most of us want to have loving, supportive relationships. We want to be able to deal with conflict without hurting others or allowing them to hurt us. So, how do you heal from emotional abuse and change your own unhealthy behavior?
Counseling helps free you from the pain of emotional abuse and unlock your full potential.
Important Therapeutic Tasks for Healing from Emotional Abuse
- Receive support and validation for your past and present hurts
- Be able to identify and name abusive words and behavior
- Process your feelings and sensations around your abuse
- Regain confidence, respect and care for yourself
- Learn and practice how to communicate your needs and feelings effectively and respectfully
- Develop healthy conflict resolution skills
- Learn and practice how to appropriate boundaries
Especially when you have been hurt by someone you love, it’s so important to know that you don’t have to carry your hurt by yourself. If you’re ready to get started, call me to schedule your free phone consultation, or fill out the form below. I look forward to connecting with you!