Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse definition;

"Psychological abuse, also referred to as psychological violence, emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Feeling ignored and unappreciated, not having someone to laugh and be happy with, and not having someone there for you when you feel sad can be really difficult. Someone could also be making you feel afraid by the things they say to you, or make you feel humiliated and alone by being mean or ignoring you.

This could be happening at home with parents, or with your boyfriend or girlfriend, and is known as emotional abuse.

Just Like Me?

Does this sound like you? Emotional abuse can happen in different ways:

• “If I feel sad about something my Mum just isn’t interested. I need a hug and someone to talk to but there’s no one there for me.”
• “Sometimes I feel like I’m invisible and my parents just aren’t interested in me.”
• “My boyfriend is nice to me most of the time. But sometimes he ignores all my texts and won’t talk to me for no reason at all. He won’t tell me why and I feel like I’ve done something wrong.”
• “Mum is always in a bad mood and makes me feel like it’s because of me, even though I behave. It makes me feel scared.”
• “Whenever I ask my Dad a question or talk to him about something he makes fun of me. He makes me feel stupid and I want to cry.”

Emotional abuse can also include stopping you from having friends, blaming you for things that are not your fault or expecting you to do things you are simply not capable of.

Emotional abuse is not your fault and is not fair. That is why it’s important to get help and support if you think this is just like you.

Telephone Childline on 0800 1111 if you want to talk to someone confidentially (confidentially means it is just between you and the other person. They won’t tell anyone else what you have told them unless they feel you may be in danger).