How Does PTSD Caused by Emotional Abuse Affect You Later in Life?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs as a result of traumatic events, like abuse. We often associate PTSD with physical abuse, but emotional abuse can also be a driver. In fact, it may be more likely to lead to Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).
Emotional abuse ultimately rewires the brain to make you view yourself in a negative light. It often presents as intrusive thoughts about not being enough or being worthless. This is never the fault of the victim. An abuser will often use toxic behavior to break down a person’s self-worth and gain control over them.
Types of Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse can look different depending on the abuser's role in the victim’s life. Although, the same tactics are used in each type where the abuser attempts to gain control by breaking down the other person's self-worth.
Parental Emotional Abuse
Children are unfortunately susceptible to emotional abuse through parents or other caretakers. Even when grown up, parents can still emotionally abuse their adult children. Parental emotional abuse often looks like:
Using the silent treatment
Harsh comparisons
Name-calling
Calling a child a mistake
Shaming
Humiliating
Belittling
Yelling
Threatening and bullying a child
Marital Emotional Abuse
Marital emotional abuse makes the victim feel worthless or like they deserve punishment. Abusive partners will use demeaning or condescending behavior to make the other person feel ugly, unwanted, or small. This can make it difficult for the victim to find a way out of their situation. They may put up with the abuse because they feel they deserve it or believe it's all their fault.
Often, relationships that continue down this unhealthy path are more likely to involve physical or sexual abuse.
Emotional Abuse at Work
At work, emotional abuse often flies under the radar. However, it follows the same patterns. The abuser uses intimidation, deceit, and shaming to control someone. An example might be a supervisor hyping up a co-worker for promotion, knowing the co-worker will not be chosen for the position.
It might also look like not allowing employees to have healthy boundaries. For example, this might be a company that prevents workers from having a healthy work-life balance by making it difficult to take time off or by requiring employees to be available after hours.
Some signs to watch for are a pattern of lowering self-esteem and consistent boundary crossing.
What Are The Effects of Emotional Abuse?
The short- and long-term effects of emotional abuse might show up in our mental health or in our body, if not both.
Short-term Effects
A person who is experiencing short-term effects of emotional abuse might feel:
Shame
Fear
Denial
Confusion
Helpless
Moodiness
Often distracted
These emotional effects often lead to some kind of physical sign in the body as well. Sometimes emotional abuse causes aches, pains, and muscle tension. These symptoms might intensify if the abuse continues.
Long-term Effects
Several studies show how damaging emotional abuse is for the brain. It can often lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and even eating disorders. Other symptoms include:
Insomnia
Chronic pain
Eating disorders
Easily startled
Overwhelming guilt
Difficulty regulating emotions
Difficulty establishing trust
Difficulty developing healthy relationships
Believing in the emotional manipulation (i.e. “You’re so useless.”)
Getting Help
There are hotline support networks you can turn to for help, such as the Suicide Prevention Hotline and the Domestic Abuse Hotline. Speaking with a professional about your abuse can help you fully process your experience and improve your mental health. There is no need to go through this alone. You’re worthy of a happy life.
Click here for more information on Trauma Treatment.
