Emotional Abuse

A study of emotional abuse - the trauma, loneliness and sadness it engenders, and the resulting disruption in victim's lives. The author explores the components of abuse and lays out for mental health practitioners an alternative model for it's treatment.

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Professionals vigilant about routing out physical abuse may miscalculate the profound impact of emotional abuse - an ongoing process in which one individual consistently diminishes and erodes the self-esteem of another with constant undermining, belittling, criticising and name-calling. While it does not leave any physical scars the psychic bruises it inflicts run deep. Victims describe emotional abuse as being in its way, even more painful and devastating then physical battering. Emotional abuse is continuous - unlike physical abuse - which is commonly thought to be cyclical in nature - and it ravishes the victim's sense of self, causing depression and suicidal thoughts. It is probably the most widespread form of abuse, while at the same time the least recognized and reported. The author uses her own research and clinical work with emotionally abused women to explore the components of abuse and lays out for mental health practitioners an alternative model for its treatment.