Emotional Abuse

Written by: Daniel Hughes

Various forms of abuse exist throughout the world. One form that isn’t as common as physical or verbal abuse is emotional abuse. Emotional abuse occurs usually when parents emotionally and psychologically abuse their child who is in need of support and love. Various forms of emotional abuse deal with ignoring, rejecting, isolating, exploiting or corrupting, verbally assaulting, terrorizing, or neglecting a child or person. Emotional abuse occurs in all types of families, regardless of there backgrounds. One would think their parents want what’s best for their children. However, sometimes parents emotionally and psychologically abuse their children due to stress, problems in their own families, problems at work, or even life’s problems in general. They might even emotionally abuse their children because they themselves were emotionally abused when they were younger.

Emotional abuse can have various different effects. Children who are ignored, rejected, isolated, exploited, verbally assaulted, terrorized, or neglected by their parents growing up suffer just as much if not more than children who are physically abused. Although the signs of emotional abuse in children can be initially hard to notice, one can tell due to the behavior of the child. If the child is noticeably depressed, has low self-esteem, bad behavior, suffers from withdrawal, shows signs of alcohol or drug abuse, or stays away from relationships with others, the child most likely is suffering from emotional abuse at home. Emotionally abused children usually grow up feeling degraded or left out in some way. Unfortunately these children live their lives feeling like this and when they have kids they make them feel the way they felt growing up.

Emotional abuse can also be prevented and identified. Emotional abuse that exists independently of other forms of abuse is the most difficult form of child abuse to identify and stop. This is because child protective services must have demonstrable evidence that harm to a child has been done before they can do anything about it. And, since emotional abuse doesn’t result in physical evidence such as bruising or malnutrition, it can be very hard to diagnose and if it is not diagnosed it will most likely continue to occur. Professionals that identify emotional abuse are taught to identify risk factors for emotional abuse, ask questions about the family’s history and behaviors, and provide parental classes and financial resources to help parents and guardians create safe, stable environments for their children.


Other important information consists of forms of emotional abuse:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. This old saying could not be farther from the truth. Emotional child abuse may seem invisible. However, because emotional child abuse involves behavior that interferes with a child’s mental health or social development, the effects can be extremely damaging and may even leave deeper lifelong psychological scars than physical abuse.
Emotional child abuse takes many forms, in words and in actions.

· Words. Examples of how words can hurt include constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating a child, calling names and making negative comparisons to others, or constantly telling a child he or she is “no good,” “worthless,” “bad,” or “a mistake.” How the words are spoken can be terrifying to a child as well, such as yelling, threatening, or bullying.

· Actions. Basic food and shelter may be provided, but withholding love and affection can have devastating effects on a child. Examples include ignoring or rejecting a child, giving him or her the silent treatment. Another strong component of emotional abuse is exposing the child to inappropriate situations or behavior. Especially damaging is witnessing acts that cause a feeling of helplessness and horror, such as in domestic violence or watching another sibling or pet be abused.

· Behavioral signs. Since emotional child abuse does not leave concrete marks, the effects may be harder to detect. Is the child excessively shy, fearful or afraid of doing something wrong? Behavioral extremes may also be a clue. A child may be constantly trying to parent other children for example, or on the opposite side exhibit antisocial behavior such as uncontrolled aggression. Look for inappropriate age behaviors as well, such as an older child exhibiting behaviors more commonly found in younger children.

· Caregiver signs. Does a caregiver seem unusually harsh and critical of a child, belittling and shaming him or her in front of others? Has the caregiver shown anger or issues with control in other areas? A caregiver may also seem strangely unconcerned with a child’s welfare or performance. Keep in mind that there might not be immediate caregiver signs. Tragically, many emotionally abusive caregivers can present a kind outside face to the world, making the abuse of the child all the more confusing and scary.

Information was provided by: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

For more information please see the link above

To help stop emotional abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)