Do any of the following statements sound familiar?

•  There is blaming, cursing, or name calling.
• One person controls the finances.
• There is control of outside interests and friendships.
• I see a “Jekyll/Hyde” personality.
• I make excuses for their behavior.
• Sex is not a “mutual” agreement.
• Household responsibilities are not shared.
• There was violence in our families while growing up.
• There are mind games, hostile humor, and/or put downs in public.
• I cannot express my own opinion.
• I have trouble communicating.
• I live in fear.
• I have unrealistic expectations for myself and others.
• I feel isolated from my friends and family.
• One person makes all the decisions.
• I feel intimidated by looks, actions, and/or voice tone.
• They threaten suicide or to leave me.
• There is undue jealousy of my friends, family, and/or my time.
• There is destruction of my personal property and/or abuse of pets.
• My children are being used against me in any way possible.
• I feel angry, on edge, depressed, trapped, and/or suicidal.
• I find myself yelling at others, especially those I love.
• I have been a victim of verbal, sexual, and/or physical abuse.
• I feel alone with absolutely no one to confide in.
• I struggle with feeling rejected.
• There is no respect for privacy in our home.
• Whenever I share things, it’s eventually used against me.
• I am constantly guessing what is wrong or what I did.
• My partner/friend seems to tune me out and never really communicates with me.

Emotional Abuse: Any communication, admonition, reprimand, or reproof that does not uplift, edify, or bring conflict resolution.

Are you aware that there are 19 forms of abuse? Some forms of abuse are so subtle that people accept them as normal.  All forms of abuse are devastating and destroy individuals and their relationships.