ACES

EMOTIONAL ABUSE
By: Jordynn Anderson
 WHAT IS "any act including confinement,
isolation, verbal assault, humiliation,
intimidation, infantilization, or any

EMOTIONAL other treatment which may diminish

the sense of identity, dignity, and self-
worth.“

ABUSE? Also known as Psychological Abuse

(Chronic verbal aggression)
https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-
abuse/emotional-abuse-definitions-signs-symptoms-examples
 ■ Threats of violence or abandonment
■ Intentionally frightening
Types of ■ Making an individual fear that they will not receive
the food or care they need
Emotional ■
■
Lying
Failing to check allegations of abuse against them
Abuse: ■ Making derogative or slanderous statements about
an individual to others
■ Socially isolating an individual, failing to let them
have visitors
■ Withholding important information
■ Demeaning an individual because of the language
they speak
■ Intentionally misinterpreting traditional practices
■ Repeatedly raising the issue of death
■ Telling an individual that they are too much trouble
■ Ignoring or excessively criticizing
■ Being over-familiar and disrespectful
■ Ordering someone around, like a servant or child
 ■ Feeling of depression ■ Frequent blaming on
Symptomatic ■ Withdrawal from social
interactions
others
■ Self-blaming
Behaviors ■ Isolation from friends ■ Pessimistic behavior
and family
■ Substance or drug abuse
■ Low self-esteem
■ Extreme dependence on
■ Fearfulness others
■ Increased anxiety ■ Avoiding eye-contact
■ Guilty feeling ■ Telling lies
■ Feeling of shame ■ Aggressive behavior
■ Mood swings ■ Emotional instability
■ Nervous feeling ■ Suicidal attempts
■ Not trusting others
Short Term Effects:
■ Surprise and confusion
■ Questioning of one's own memory, "did that really
happen?"
■ Anxiety or fear
■ Shame or guilt
■ Aggression (as a defense to the abuse)
■ Becoming overly passive or compliant
■ Frequent crying
■ Avoidance of eye contact
■ Feeling powerless and defeated as nothing you do ever
seems to be right (learned helplessness)
■ Feeling like you're "walking on eggshells"
■ Feeling manipulated, used and controlled
■ Feeling undesirable
Long Term Effects:
■ Depression
■ Withdrawal
■ Low self-esteem and self-worth
■ Emotional instability
■ Sleep disturbances
■ Physical pain without cause
■ Suicidal ideation, thoughts or
attempts
■ Extreme dependence on the abuser
■ Underachievement
■ Inability to trust
■ Feeling trapped and alone
■ Substance abuse
 Can happen to anyone at any time in their life.
■ Children
■ Teens
■ Adults
■ Women
■ Men

Prevalence/Statistics ■ Children with disabilities

-Three times more likely to be neglected or
abused than children without disabilities.
of Emotional Abuse ■ Mental health problems
■ Domestic abuse
■ Drug/alcohol addiction
■ Relationship problems
■ Family arguments
■ Financial problems or unemployment
■ Immigration, being isolated
■ Poverty
■ Language problems.
 CONTINUED:
• 1 in 14 children have experienced
emotional abuse by and adult or
guardian.
• Nearly 20,000 children were identified
needing protection in 2016.
• Emotional abuse is the 2nd most
common reason for children needing
protection.
• Over 3,000 counselling sessions about
emotional abuse 2016/2017
• 17% of contacts to helplines last year
were concerns about emotional abuse.
• 1 of 3 adolescents in the U.S. is a victim
of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal
abuse from a dating partner, a figure that
far exceeds rates of other types of youth
violence.
 ■ Understand the abuser
Strategies to ■ Stand up to the abuser
deal with Issues: ■ Change the subject or humor to
distract
■ Regain control, acting confident
■ Speak in clear, calm voice and
state reasonable expectations
■ Practice being more assertive in
other situations.
■ Find positive ways to interact
Support and Resources:
Different therapies are common when treating emotional
abuse.
■ Individual therapy
■ Group therapy
■ Journaling
■ Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
■ Cognitive behavioral therapy
■ Somatic therapy –studies relationship between the
mind and body because of psychological past.
There are also different places to contact for help.
■ The National Domestic Violence Hotline
■ The Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness
Education and Action
■ Healthy Place for Mental Health
 SOURCES:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YopYv1Ea_1s
• https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-
abuse/emotional-abuse-definitions-signs-symptoms-examples
• https://psychologenie.com/emotional-abuse-signs-symptoms
• http://madaid.org/mental-abuse/
• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-
neglect/emotional-abuse/who-is-affected/
• https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-
neglect/emotional-abuse/
• https://www.mentalhelp.net/aware/physically-and-emotionally-abusive-
relationships/