Protecting Your Future With Compassion And Understanding

Finding happiness after an emotionally abusive marriage

On Behalf of | Mar 12, 2020 | Firm News

While emotional abuse is typically not obvious like physical abuse is, it can be just as devastating to the victim. Emotional abuse may take a while to identify, and by the time it happens, the victim may be in a real low spot. However, for those who get out of the relationship, there is freedom to reclaim happiness and fulfillment in life. 

According to PsychCentral, emotional abuse is a type of violence and it often leads to physical abuse. Emotional abuse is also the most common type of domestic abuse, and it results in many mental health issues. It can be hard to identify emotional abuse because it is subtle and manipulative, and the perpetrator wears down the victim’s confidence over time. 

Some examples of this type of abuse include 

  • Causing guilt without concern for the victim’s feeling 
  • Gaslighting 
  • Stonewalling, or shutting off from the conversation 
  • Using sarcasm to make victim feel unworthy 
  • Criticizing and threatening to leave the relationship 

For those who recognize the signs of emotional abuse and are able to get out of the relationship, it can be difficult at first. The victim may not feel worthy and have trouble trusting others. However, getting professional help and turning towards support systems can help the victim regain happiness sooner than later. 

Whether in an abusive relationship or not, the Reader’s Digest discusses some benefits of life after divorce. One is that loneliness dissipates. An emotional abuser often closes the victim off from friends and family, and divorce opens up those pathways again. These connections can be very supportive and provide much needed social time. 

Divorce also allows the victim time for self-discovery. Rather than do or be who the abuser wanted, a new divorcee can rediscover activities they missed out on. Over time, a victim also regains confidence and self-esteem. 

Archives