While physical is a more common form of domestic abuse, emotional violence can be just as damaging. It can cause severe psychological trauma. The abuser uses mental and emotional forms of abuse to hurt another person. They humiliate them. They demean and insult the victim to control them.
Emotional abuse can be extremely harmful to an individual, especially if they share a home with their abuser. It is a pattern of behavior that instills fear in the victim and establishes a distorted authority. Every day the victim endures manipulation, isolation, threats and embarrassment from the person who is supposed to love them.
How do I know if I am experiencing emotional abuse?
Victims of emotional abuse can feel like their emotional distress does not warrant any legal intervention. However, emotional abuse can have devastating short-term and long-term effects on the brain and body. You should know if your spouse is emotionally abusing you and how, so you can stop it, or at least get away from it. The following are forms of emotional abuse:
- Verbal harassment
- Embarrassing and insulting you in public
- Isolating you from friends and other family members
- Withholding affection and intimacy to purposely hurt you
- Challenging your perception of reality and making you think you are crazy
- Criticizing your appearance and behavior
The hard part is you might not even realize it’s happening. The abuser will do what they can to diminish your self-worth. You start to feel like you need them and without them you are nothing. You must protect yourself from this abuse.
How can I prove my spouse is emotionally abusing me?
Unlike other states, Florida follows the impact rule. The victim would have had to experience a significant physical impact to receive compensation for the damages they suffered. However, emotional distress can have legal and tangible manifestations. You can argue your spouse was negligent or acted with the intent to cause harm. You can collect medical records from therapists and keep prescriptions for drugs that address your anxiety and depression. There are many ways to fight this. Your fear should not stop you from saving yourself.