Relationships are an essential part of our lives, but what happens when they become toxic? It is not just physical and sexual abuse that can harm someone. Emotional and mental abuse can be just as harmful, but it is often harder to recognize and explain. Chronic emotional abuse and neglect can be just as devastating as physical or sexual abuse, and it comes from not being seen, not being understood, and having nowhere to feel safe. Being treated this way is destructive for anyone, and it is particularly crushing for children. The effects of relationship trauma can stay with a person throughout their life, but it is possible to heal and recover.
What is Relationship Trauma?
Relationship trauma can be any non-physical behavior or attitude that is designed to control, subdue, punish, or isolate another person through the use of humiliation or fear. It is any type of behavior that causes harm and can include mental and emotional harm. Emotional abuse is present in about 80% of intimate relationships, and about 50% of couples report experiencing a lifetime of emotional abuse by a partner. Emotional abuse can be just as devastating as physical or sexual abuse. Often, the mental and emotional injuries are harder to recognize and explain because of manipulation, along with the reality that wounds and scars are often unseen.
Chronic Emotional Abuse
Chronic emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical or sexual abuse. Emotional abuse can come in the form of name-calling, chronic criticism, and contempt. Emotional abuse can also take the form of isolation from friends and family. It may start subtly, with complaints about how often you talk to a family member, or saying they do not like your best friend and do not think you should hang out with them anymore. Criticism can also take the form of attacking your partner’s personality or character. The goal is to strip you of your support network and anyone you would turn to besides them.
Physical and Emotional Abuse
The brain and body actually respond to emotional abuse in the same way that it responds to physical abuse. Through neuroimaging or taking pictures of the brain, we know that the areas of the brain that light up when we experience physical pain are the exact same areas that light up when we experience emotional pain. When we experience verbal aggression, emotional assault, or manipulation, our brain goes into survival mode. We struggle to process emotions and may struggle to evaluate whether or not our environment is safe. Basically, every part of our brain that sets us apart from the animal kingdom is affected. We begin to process our life disproportionately through what is called the reptilian brain, with the focus being on surviving instead of thriving.
Healing from Relationship Trauma
The first step to healing from relationship trauma is recognizing that it exists. It is important to acknowledge that the effects of trauma can stay with a person throughout their life, but it is possible to heal and recover. Talking to a counselor can be a great way to start the healing process. A counselor can help you understand the effects of trauma and guide you through the healing process. They can help you work through the emotions that come with trauma and provide you with tools to cope with the effects of trauma in your life. It is also important to practice self-care and be kind to yourself. Take time to do things that make you happy and bring you joy. This can be as simple as taking a walk in nature or listening to music that you enjoy.
Relationship trauma can have long-lasting effects on individuals, both physically and emotionally. While physical and sexual abuse are often more easily recognized as trauma, emotional abuse and neglect can be just as devastating. It is important to seek help if you have experienced relationship trauma, as healing is possible with the right support and resources. Remember, you deserve to feel safe, loved, and worthy of healthy relationships.
Get support in working through relationship trauma so you can thrive in life. Schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation with one of our trauma specialists right here.
Relationships are an essential part of our lives, but what happens when they become toxic? It is not just physical and sexual abuse that can harm someone. Emotional and mental abuse can be just as harmful, but it is often harder to recognize and explain. Chronic emotional abuse and neglect can be just as devastating as physical or sexual abuse, and it comes from not being seen, not being understood, and having nowhere to feel safe. Being treated this way is destructive for anyone, and it is particularly crushing for children. The effects of relationship trauma can stay with a person throughout their life, but it is possible to heal and recover.
What is Relationship Trauma?
Relationship trauma can be any non-physical behavior or attitude that is designed to control, subdue, punish, or isolate another person through the use of humiliation or fear. It is any type of behavior that causes harm and can include mental and emotional harm. Emotional abuse is present in about 80% of intimate relationships, and about 50% of couples report experiencing a lifetime of emotional abuse by a partner. Emotional abuse can be just as devastating as physical or sexual abuse. Often, the mental and emotional injuries are harder to recognize and explain because of manipulation, along with the reality that wounds and scars are often unseen.
Chronic Emotional Abuse
Chronic emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical or sexual abuse. Emotional abuse can come in the form of name-calling, chronic criticism, and contempt. Emotional abuse can also take the form of isolation from friends and family. It may start subtly, with complaints about how often you talk to a family member, or saying they do not like your best friend and do not think you should hang out with them anymore. Criticism can also take the form of attacking your partner’s personality or character. The goal is to strip you of your support network and anyone you would turn to besides them.
Physical and Emotional Abuse
The brain and body actually respond to emotional abuse in the same way that it responds to physical abuse. Through neuroimaging or taking pictures of the brain, we know that the areas of the brain that light up when we experience physical pain are the exact same areas that light up when we experience emotional pain. When we experience verbal aggression, emotional assault, or manipulation, our brain goes into survival mode. We struggle to process emotions and may struggle to evaluate whether or not our environment is safe. Basically, every part of our brain that sets us apart from the animal kingdom is affected. We begin to process our life disproportionately through what is called the reptilian brain, with the focus being on surviving instead of thriving.
Healing from Relationship Trauma
The first step to healing from relationship trauma is recognizing that it exists. It is important to acknowledge that the effects of trauma can stay with a person throughout their life, but it is possible to heal and recover. Talking to a counselor can be a great way to start the healing process. A counselor can help you understand the effects of trauma and guide you through the healing process. They can help you work through the emotions that come with trauma and provide you with tools to cope with the effects of trauma in your life. It is also important to practice self-care and be kind to yourself. Take time to do things that make you happy and bring you joy. This can be as simple as taking a walk in nature or listening to music that you enjoy.
Relationship trauma can have long-lasting effects on individuals, both physically and emotionally. While physical and sexual abuse are often more easily recognized as trauma, emotional abuse and neglect can be just as devastating. It is important to seek help if you have experienced relationship trauma, as healing is possible with the right support and resources. Remember, you deserve to feel safe, loved, and worthy of healthy relationships.
Get support in working through relationship trauma so you can thrive in life. Schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation with one of our trauma specialists right here.
Our 3-video series, Healing from Trauma, can help you take the first step towards recovery. Our videos provide insight and advice that will help you decide if therapy is right for you, and give you the tools to start your healing journey.
Video One: How to Get Traumatic Images Out of Your Head
Video Two: Can you be Traumatized and Not Know It?
Video Three: Can You Get PTSD from Emotional Abuse?
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