Emotional abuse in marriages is a very sensitive area because it defiles the bodies and minds of those involved and ruins the kids as well. These lesser-known forms of abuse can leave trauma that extends beyond emotional and psychological damage into behavioral consequences for the children in these types of homes. If you are in the grip of, or witness to this kind of abuse, is it extremely important to know what effect it has on children and get help as soon as possible. Resources like All in the Family Counselling provide group work resources for families in distress.
What Is Emotional Abuse?
It might be subtle or overt but emotional abuse encompasses manipulation, intimidation, belittling and any control behavior. It does not leave visible bruises as physical abuse, but sore the victims self esteem, self worth and emotional welfare. While some of the most common include non-stop criticism, making degrading comments, and not allowing someone to see friends or family. Emotional abuse often, but not always, gradually escalates in intensity over time, creating an environment of anxiety and tension.
The Impact on Children
Emotional abuse in the home has a very big impact on children, whatever their age. It is trauma to observe emotional abuse of either parent and still bear the brunt of your own, should there survive enough compassion in another child for us to feel that individually. Children are extremely observant and responsive to their parents’ emotions and interactions. When they experience one parent being bullied, controlled or manipulated all the time, it distorts their sense of normal and children can internalize these traits as acceptable relationship behavior into their own adult relationships later on.
Internalizing/Externalizing Problems
In children; anxiety, depression and low self-esteem are associated with exposure to emotional abuse. And adults might feel bewildered, wondering if theyre at fault or responsible for the family strain. These kids may act out by becoming aggressive, withdrawn — or even defiant. Other kids will exhibit behavior problems at school or do poorly academically due to the weight of their emotional load. The rest give in to appeasement, striving for ever more perfection so that there be peace at home.
Psychological Scars Involving Long Term Effacts
The emotional harm of a child who grew up in an abusive environment does not necessarily end after the abuse period. Adults who were emotionally abused as children are also more likely to experience depression, anxiety, PTSD and problems in relationships. They could have trust issues, trouble with emotional intimacy, or start to re-create abusive patterns in their own relationships. In addition, for some it may serve as a catalyst to adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol or self-harm.
Unrealistic Views on Relationships
When you see your parents abuse us emotionally, ask yourself about the children that come from there. These are some of the examples, but how these can make them see manipulation, control and constant criticism as something that is normal, or even okay to have in a (romantic) relationship. This malformation reflects how they can end up in toxic relationships later in life, which only perpetuates the abuse on.
Why Getting Help Is Crucial
If you find yourself in an emotionally abusive relationship, putting the kids first is paramount even when they say nothing or latch onto it wholeheartedly. Emotional abuse is pervasive and does not simply “go away” on its own; it often gets worse over time. And the more kids there are exposed to it, the greater these psycho-social effects are allowed to take root.
Taking a step to get help moves you towards breaking the abuse cycle and potentially saving your children from it too. After being abused, children need support and guidance in dealing with their experiences and seek professional counseling not only for the abused partner.
How All in the Family Counselling Can Help
Here at All in the Family Counselling, we offer a compassionate and supportive space for people struggling with emotional abuse to come. This enables them to provide individualised help for people living with the many challenges of abuse and helps in rebuilding self esteem, facilitate building emotional resilience through their emotional group work sessions.
These group sessions focus on modeling the dynamics of emotional abuse, teaching participants about healthy coping mechanisms and helping them start the healing process. It will also connect people with shared experiences and remind them that they are not on their own. Receiving the support and insights in these sessions is crucial to escape being part of a toxic pattern system and it helps create a more soothing home environment for everyone most importantly, children.
Steps to Take Now
Please take a step forward if you are still living in an emotionally abusive relationship: it is essential, for the sake of your mental health and your children. Everyday Steps to Take Right Now
Admit the Issue: The very first step is admitting to yourself and others that you are being emotionally abused. While it may be hard to do so, we hope that this will help them understand that they do not have to blame themselves or feel guilty of the verbal abuse and also know which are normal behavior and which are unacceptable. But accepting that you are being emotionally abuse is very essential.
Get professional: Professional therapy and counseling can give you the mental means to cope with emotional abuse. The therapist can help restore your self-esteem and emotional muscles by tipping the delicate seesaw towards yourself before advising you on how to deal with unhealthy dynamics. Group therapy at All in the Family Counselling is a way to open up and talk about your experience, with others that are going through the same or similar thing.
Craft a Safety Plan: If emotional abuse is intensifying, a safety plan should be define. This may mean finding someone you trust who can validate your experience, writing down what is happening or seeking legal advice if needed.
Converse with Your Children: Kids are typically more astute than we form them out to be. Talk to your kids about what’s happening in an age-appropriate way. Tell them it is not their fault that the abuse happened and there is no reason to feel guilty about feeling upset or confused. Family counseling will be very helpful for the children to overcome their traumas of emotional abuse and help them process their emotions.
Seek Out a Support Group: Meet people who have been through your situation and get the emotional support you need in order to avoid feeling alone. Joining support groups, whether in person or online, allows you to see other people’s experience and tell your story.
Conclusion
Long-term effects of emotional abuse between spouses, especially on the children watching are tricky. Identify the signs that emotional abuse is occurring, realize the massive effects it has on a child and do something to break out of this cycle For support in healing from emotional abuse and creating a healthier environment for your children as well, resources such as All in the Family Counselling emotional group work can help.
If you are relying on the family environment to undertake rehab, you must seek help now because it helps support the person in a much better way and saves burden. Wait for no one for the harm to become irremediable It is what the life and health of your children, as well as yours, are counting on.
