Emotional abuse, also referred to as psychological abuse, is the attempt to scare, control or isolate an individual by intimidation or fear.
It may involve:
- deliberately telling an individual that they are worthless
- not giving someone the opportunity to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say
- bullying, coercive and controlling behaviour or blackmail.
Just because there is no physical mark that doesn’t mean the abuse isn’t real. Emotional abuse can have short-term and long-lasting effects that are just as serious as the effects of physical abuse.