What does one do when you know what's happened but the source won't go away

What Are the Short- and Long-Term Effects of Emotional Abuse?

 



 

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP — Written by Ann Pietrangelo — Updated on March 29, 2019

 

Recognizing the signs

 

When thinking about abuse, physical abuse may come to mind first. But abuse can come in many forms. Emotional abuse is just as serious as physical abuse and oftenTrusted Source precedes it. Sometimes they happen together.

 

If you’re wondering whether it’s happening to you, here are some of the signs:

 

yelling

 

name-calling

 

spewing insults or otherwise ridiculing you

 

attempting to make you question your own sanity (gaslighting)

 

invading your privacy

 

punishing you for not going along with what they want

 

trying to control your life

 

isolating you from family and friends

 

making subtle or overt threats

 

If you’ve been emotionally abused, know that it’s not your fault. There’s also not a “correct” way to feel about it.

 

Emotional abuse isn’t normal, but your feelings are.

 

Short-term effects

 

You might be in denial at first. It can be shocking to find yourself in such a situation. It’s natural to hope you’re wrong.

 

You may also have feelings of:

 

confusion

 

fear

 

hopelessness

 

shame

 

This emotional toll can also result in behavioral and physical side effects. You may experience:

 

difficulty concentrating

 

moodiness

 

muscle tension

 

nightmares

 

racing heartbeat

 

various aches and pains

 

Long-term effects

 

StudiesTrusted Source show that severe emotional abuse can be as powerful as physical abuse. Over time, both can contribute to low self-esteem and depression.

 

You may also develop:

 

anxiety

 

chronic pain

 

guilt

 

insomnia

 

social withdrawal or loneliness

 

Some researchers theorizeTrusted Source that emotional abuse may contribute to the development of conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

 

As with adults, emotional abuse of children can go unrecognized.

 

If a child is experiencing emotional abuse, they may develop:

 

social withdrawal

 

regression

 

sleep disorders

 

If left unresolved, these conditions can continue into adulthood and leave you vulnerable to more mistreatment.

 

Most children who are abused don’t grow up to abuse others. But some research suggests that they may be more likely than adults who weren’t abused during childhood to engage in toxic behaviors.

 

Adults who were abused or neglected as children may also be more likely to develop chronic health problems, including:

 

eating disorders

 

headaches

 

heart disease

 

mental health issues

 

obesity

 

substance use disorders

 

Does emotional abuse lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

 

Emotional abuse doesn’t always lead to PTSD, but it can.

 

PTSD can develop after a frightening or shocking event. Your doctor may make a PTSD diagnosis if you experience high levels of stress or fear over a long period of time. These feelings are usually so severe that they interfere with your daily functioning.

 

Other symptoms of PTSD include:

 

angry outbursts

 

being easily startled

 

negative thoughts

 

insomnia

 

nightmares

 

reliving the trauma (flashbacks) and experiencing physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat

 

PTSD in children might also cause:

 

bed-wetting

 

clinginess

 

regression

 

You may be more likely to develop PTSD if you have:

 

been through traumatic events before, especially in childhood

 

a history of mental illness or substance use

 

no support system

 

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/effects-of-emotional-abuse#ptsd