Would You Know If You’re In An Emotionally Abusive Relationship?

Name-calling, possessiveness, manipulation – this kind of psychological torture can be subtle, but the scars aren’t.

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior — criticism, control, manipulation, or isolation — used to undermine another person’s sense of self, without necessarily involving physical violence. It’s one of the hardest forms of abuse to name from the inside, because it rarely looks like abuse while it’s happening. It looks like a relationship that’s just… hard.

When Bec, 20, started going out with Chris, life was sweet.  But as time passed, he began to change.  “He started telling me what I should wear, what I should be eating and who I should be friends with”, she says.

At first Bec thought he was just joking and brushed the criticism aside.  But his controlling nature got worse and Bec eventually stopped talking to friends and her family – because Chris didn’t like them.  “I knew it wasn’t right, but I put up with it.  I was afraid what would happen if I broke up with him”.

You might think you know what domestic abuse looks like – the photos of Rihanna’s bruised and battered face are pretty hard to forget – but ask any psychologist and they’ll agree that Bec was the victim of abuse.  Abuse of the emotional kind.

What does emotional abuse look like?

“People experiencing emotional abuse feel trapped”, says psychologist, Angelica Bilibio.  “Often, people don’t realize that they’re in an emotionally abusive relationship because it’s not as tangible as other forms of violence.  But it’s psychological violence and can be as bad as physical and sexual abuse”.

It’s precisely because this kind of relationship is so subtle, and slow to develop, that it can be difficult to recognize as being toxic.

Alarm Bells: Signs of Emotional Abuse

So, what is emotional abuse?  “Common signs include a lack of empathy for the victim; anger; demanding and selfish behavior; destructive patterns when dealing with conflict; and an emotional climate marked by hot and cold”, says Bilibio.

“The victim feels ‘unseen’ in the relationship, and that they’re constantly walking on eggshells”.

Also, forget the idea that abuse always involves a physical element, adds psychologist, David Indermaur.  “Many perpetrators of domestic violence never actually hit their victim”, he says.

The long-term effects of this kind of abuse include major trust issues, low self-esteem, health problems, depression, anxiety, and a decrease in functioning (think: work and sleep problems).

 In unhealthy relationships, it can be difficult to accept that the person you love is hurting you.  Domestic abusers exploit the other person’s affection or dependency for their personal gain.  “They can be very convincing, loving and appreciative”, says Bilibio.

The abuser regularly uses push-and-pull tactics to assert control.  Bec recalls, “Chris would say something really rude, and then if I got offended, he would blame himself and apologies profusely.  It was really confusing.  He came from a pretty violent family, so it also frightened me”.

It’s especially hard to see things straight if you are being a doormat in a relationship or if you’re not that experienced with relationships or .  Emma was 18 when she met 24-year-old David.  “It was my first adult relationship”, she says.  “I just thought every guy acted like this”.

David discouraged Emma from seeing her friends and made negative comments about her weight.  Over time her confidence was so diminished, she no longer knew what was normal.

“Eventually, my parents sat me down.  I began to realize his behavior was wrong.  When I think about abuse, I think about violence – but emotional abuse is so subtle.  You begin to doubt your inner voice because you’ve become so groomed and manipulated that you can’t see right from wrong”.

 When a cycle of dysfunction starts to feel normal, it becomes harder to get out.  It took Cara, now 31, four years to leave her boyfriend, Josh.

“Every day there was a negative comment – ‘you’re fat, you’re ugly, I’m the only one who would possibly want you’”, she recalls.  But the abuse didn’t stop there.  At first it was a few pushes.  Then, when she fell pregnant and opted to have an abortion, Josh punched her in the stomach repeatedly.

It got so bad Cara contemplated suicide.  “It was the darkest moment of my life”, she says.  The violence went on until the day Josh tried to strangle her.  “I thought, ‘Holy sh!t, I’m going to die, because of this idiot’”.

She finally walked out, but the scars remain.  Over the course of their relationship, she’d racked up $150 000 debt on her credit card to support him, put on 60kg, and lost her career in law.  “I’m still undoing the damage from that time now”, Cara admits.

Summoning the courage to leave can be the hardest part.  If you decide to go, tell a friend first.  “Have a safety plan and deliver the news remotely”, advises Indermaur.  “Research shows that the most dangerous time for a woman is at that particular moment”.

If you’re not sure whether you’re being emotionally abused, consider this: “A relationship should make you feel better than when you’re by yourself”, says Indermaur.  If you don’t feel good around him, talk to a trusted friend or a professional

Worried that someone you know could be caught in an emotionally abusive relationship?

Gentle, clear intervention and unconditional support is the best way to go. Be careful not to be too critical about their partner. “Most women will get their guard up,” says Cara. “If friends had approached me in a logical way and given me an article on domestic violence, I’d probably have read the characteristics, and gone, ‘Oh my God, that’s me.'”

Indermaur suggests it’s better to listen than to give advice. “Let the person know what’s normal and what’s not — that kind of clarity is often very helpful.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is emotional abuse in a relationship?

Emotional abuse is a repeated pattern of criticism, control, manipulation, or isolation used to undermine a partner’s confidence and independence, without necessarily involving physical violence. It can be just as damaging as physical abuse, but is often harder to recognize because it leaves no visible marks.

What is gaslighting and how is it different from a normal disagreement?

Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic where someone repeatedly denies or distorts events until the other person doubts their own memory or judgment. A normal disagreement is about different perspectives on the same shared reality; gaslighting is designed to make the victim question whether their reality is valid at all.

Can someone be emotionally abusive without ever being physically violent?

Yes. Many perpetrators of domestic abuse never physically hit their partner. Psychological abuse — through control, criticism, and manipulation — is recognized by psychologists as its own damaging form of abuse, independent of physical violence.

How do I know if I’m in an emotionally abusive relationship?

A useful test: a relationship should generally make you feel better than being on your own. If you regularly feel unseen, on edge, or like you’re walking on eggshells around your partner, that’s worth taking seriously rather than dismissing.

What should I do if a friend might be in an emotionally abusive relationship?

Listen more than you advise, and avoid being overly critical of their partner directly, since this often causes people to become defensive. Gently help them understand what’s normal and what isn’t, and let them know you’re there without judgment when they’re ready.

If you are experiencing any of these signs of emotional abuse or if you are not sure and would like to talk it over with a professional, we have experienced Relationship Psychologists in Sydney and all capital and large regional cities in Australia. We can help you. Contact us now.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. For confidential support, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for domestic and family violence support, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

(This is an article written in the July 2013 edition of Cosmopolitan magazine, where two of our Sydney Hart Psychologists, Angelica Bilibio and David Indermaur, were interviewed.)