Verbal Abuse
We should all know that there is never a sufficient excuse for abuse and that the victim is never to blame.
The most common and under-reported form of abuse is verbal abuse. Victims of verbal abuse rarely talk about what they are going through because society often forces them to keep quiet about it.
It is also possible that these victims do not even know they are being abused, but ignorance of the act does not excuse its effects.
Verbal abuse may seem like the least bad form of abuse, but we humans form our idea of ourselves 80% from what we hear, and hearing only negative talk about ourselves and around us causes one to lose any positive outlook on life.
Signs of Verbal Abuse: It’s not always easy to spot a victim of verbal abuse, but here are a few tips:
- They tend to shrink in front of others because their self-esteem has been affected by the abuse and they feel they are worthless to themselves.
- This is because they are used to never winning arguments, and they are afraid that an insult scene will occur.
- They rarely express themselves: Because of all the abuse they have experienced, they are used to being controlled and having their feelings overlooked, which causes them to retreat into their shell and not voice their opinions on certain issues.
PATTERNS TO LOOK FOR IN ABUSERS:
Verbal abusers always have these patterns, and if you pay attention to them, you can recognize them.
- They always use disparaging words
- Constant criticism
- Manipulative nature
- They always play the blame game.
HOW TO DEAL WITH VERBAL ABUSE:
- Create healthy boundaries.
- Avoid unnecessary arguments with the abuser.
- Join a support group.
- Seek help to begin your healing process.
Verbal abuse should not be overlooked as it primarily affects the mental health of the person being abused.