Emotional abuse is more than just name calling. It also goes beyond a romantic relationship, and can happen in a mother-daughter relationship, friendship, or to whom anyone you have a connection to. In some cases, emotional abuse is worse than physical because those words leave emotional scars that don't heal.

Maybe they don’t hit you, but their words do.

They strip you of your confidence by giving you unpleasant names. You become convinced that the words they speak about you are true. To them, you are nothing more than a label. They don’t show empathy or an apologetic attitude for anytime they’ve put you down.

Maybe they don’t hit you, but they manipulate you.

Your kindness is used to their advantage. They take control of your life and treat you like a child. They make you feel like you need their permission for everyday activities. The money you make isn’t spent on materials you want or need, but the materials they think are necessary. They gaslight you and make you believe you are the insane one.

Maybe they don’t hit you, but they accuse you of being, “too sensitive,” or “too weak.”

They blame their unremarkable words on sarcasm and expect you to take it that way. “Chill out, it’s just a joke” is what they tell you. “Teasing” is how they make you feel bad about yourself.

Maybe they don’t hit you, but they share your personal information with others.

They break your trust in the relationship and make you feel bad for not telling them anything. They belittle you and make you feel like you’re the problem in the relationship. Whenever you suggest ideas to help or fix anything, they demean it.

Maybe they don’t hit you, but they make you feel like you’re nothing without them.

They attack your simplicity. Their goal is to destabilize you. They portray themselves as a high being, and you as someone much below them.