Symptoms of mental abuse include efforts of one person to control another through constant criticism and belittling, making threats of physical abuse or withdrawal of love, safety or financial support, and efforts to isolate the victim from friends or family. Mental abuse tends over time to affect the victim`s self-confidence so adversely that (s)he may become less and less able to act on his/her own behalf, and may come to believe that the abusive behavior is his/her own fault.
Mental Abuse in Relationships
Mental abuse, or emotional abuse, often occurs in relationships that are plagued by domestic violence. A mother may mentally abuse her children by guilt tripping, controlling, or manipulating them. A husband may mentally abuse his wife by restricting her social relationships and previewing her outfits each day. Mental abuse is just as devastating and harmful as physical abuse, it is just more difficult to spot. Many victims of mental abuse downplay its negative effects, or are not even aware that it is going on. While the cycle of mental abuse is difficult to stop, resources exist to help you. Ask your doctor for help if you do not know where to turn.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersCommon medications to treat mental abuse include antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. Antidepressants normalize the brain chemistry and help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. These drugs can also aid with sleep problems and the ability to focus. Antidepressants should be prescribed based on the specific symptoms the individual is experiencing. Anti-anxiety drugs relieve symptoms of anxiety and stress.
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Boston Women's Health Book Collective , Administration, answeredTherapy is an option for trauma caused by emotional abuse:-Sometimes, those closest to you are unable or unwilling to talk about what's wrong, offer unhelpful advice, or are too much a part of your problem to assist you. Even when you have good support from people who care for you, you may still want additional help or a fresh perspective. If so, it is useful to explore the option of therapy.
Choosing therapy is not a sign of weakness, as some people believe; nor is it "putting your business out where everyone can see."Therapists owe legal obligation to a client to keep confidential all that goes on in therapy. Moreover, you don't have to be concerned about protecting a therapist's feelings, as you might with a close friend or family member, and may thus feel free to talk.
Many mental health professionals assume that emotional distress, especially in a woman, requires medication, psychotherapy, or both. It helps to find a therapist who focuses not only on your problems but also on your strengths and resources, which are your essential raw materials for coping. Good caregivers recognize that even women who experience such traumas as sexual abuse in childhood or rape have the capacity for resilience. They also recognize the importance of holding abusers responsible, so that women are less likely to feel guilty or blame themselves for these traumas.
Therapy sessions facilitated by a mental health professional may occur one-on-one or in a couple, family, or group setting. Therapy involves an exchange between the client and the therapist. Through these discussions, you can seek to experience and express your feelings, understand your emotional life more fully, tell your story and possibly rethink it to come to a new understanding of your history. You can learn about your inner strengths, think about your concerns in various contexts (personal, interpersonal, and societal), explore possible solutions for current life problems, and learn better ways to communicate your needs.
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Mental abuse is a form of emotional and psychological abuse. It can take the form verbal statements and nonverbal actions. The abuser controls the victim through isolation, limiting communication, and control of financial assets.
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Mental abuse does not discriminate among economic status or age. It occurs among all ethnic and racial groups. Mental abuse is often associated with domestic abuse, where one partner is physically and mentally abusive to the other partner in a relationship. Victims of domestic abuse are commonly women. Children and the elderly are also commonly abuse victims.
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Mental abuse affects the body through a range of psychological conditions. Many victims of mental abuse suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. A person experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder may also develop eating disorders or entertain and act on suicidal thoughts. They may also feel guilty or responsible or like they are crazy. A victim often continues to experience psychological effects after the abuse has ended.
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Mental abuse is a common form of domestic and child abuse. It is estimated that as many as 30 percent of marriages in the United States are physically abusive. The victims of domestic abuse are most commonly women, but children are also affected. It is estimated that 3.3 million children witness physical and verbal abuse at home every year in the United States. Of this number, almost 900,000 children in the United States are abused and neglected every year.
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Men can be victims of mental abuse, even though women are more commonly the victims. The abuse can occur in a heterosexual and homosexual relationship. Mental abuse includes degrading, threatening, humiliating, or intimidating language. Abuse also manifests itself in controlling behavior that isolates the victim from family and friends, financial assets, and personal behavior. Men may be reluctant to discuss abuse for fear that it would make him appear weak.
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A safety plan helps a victim escape an abusive relationship. Ask workers at a domestic violence hotline or a women's shelter for advice. Identify a friend or family member where you can stay and be safe. The plan should include a way to get to the safe location and access to money. Have an overnight bag packed and ready, including clothes, keys, and prescription drugs. Make copies of important documents, like birth certificates, bank account numbers, social security numbers, and insurance cards. Protect your communication in case your movements are being monitored by the abuser. Limit your use of cell phones and home phones. Clear your internet search history and change email passwords frequently.
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Mental abuse treatment helps the victim regain control over their life. A victim of mental abuse often suffers from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. All of these conditions can be treated with psychotherapy and drug therapy. During psychotherapy treatment, you talk to a mental health professional to work through traumatic events. Types of psychotherapy include cognitive therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and exposure therapy. Therapy can be individual or in a group setting. Drug therapy consists of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications that treat the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Discuss side effects of the medication with your doctor.