While physical abuse often leaves visible marks, emotional abuse can inflict equally devastating, long-lasting damage that may not be immediately apparent.
Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior used to exert power and control over another person through fear and degradation. In situations of intimate partner violence, it often co-occurs with other forms of abuse, including physical, spiritual, and financial abuse.
Examples of emotional abuse include:
- Constant criticism and belittling
- Threats and intimidation
- Gaslighting and manipulation
- Isolation from friends and family
- Excessive jealousy and possessiveness
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), nearly half of all women and men in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Long-Term Effects of Emotional Abuse
- Mental health issues
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Increased risk of substance abuse
- Eating disorders
- Low self-esteem and self-worth
- Chronic self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness
- Difficulty making decisions
- Tendency to accept blame for problems in relationships
Research indicates that emotional abuse can have a more significant impact on self-esteem than physical abuse.
- Trust and relationship issues
- Difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships
- Fear of intimacy
- Hyper vigilance in social situations
- Physical health problems
- Chronic pain and fatigue
- Weakened immune system
- Increased risk of heart disease and other stress-related illnesses
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that women who experienced emotional abuse had a 60% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who had not experienced abuse.
- Economic consequences
- Difficulty maintaining employment due to mental health issues
- Financial dependence on abusive partners
- Long-term economic instability
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the lifetime economic cost associated with medical services, lost productivity, criminal justice, and other costs of domestic violence was $3.6 trillion. The cost for a single victim of domestic violence over their lifetime was $103,767 for women and $23,414 for men.
- Intergenerational impact
- Higher likelihood of children who witness abuse to become victims or perpetrators in adulthood
- Potential for parenting difficulties due to unresolved trauma
Children who grow up in families where there is violence may suffer a range of behavioral and emotional disturbances that can be associated with the perpetration or experiencing of violence later in life.
Unlike bruises, the effects of emotional abuse can linger for the rest of our lives. But help is available.
About GCFJC
The Greene County Family Justice Center is a non-profit collaborative of local agencies offering comprehensive services to survivors of domestic, sexual, and family violence. Our services are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and we welcome survivors at any point in their process. We partner with local non-profit service providers as well as local law enforcement, the Prosecutor’s office, and Children’s Division to make victim services more accessible and completely voluntary. If you do not want to participate in the criminal justice process, we support you.
Our vision is a future where we all work together to meet the needs of domestic violence and human trafficking survivors through comprehensive and accessible services, education, and perpetrator accountability. Through a coordinated framework and co-located response, we strive to break the vicious generational cycle and community impact of domestic violence and resulting victimizations.
We can help you plan for your safety whether you plan to stay in the relationship, or you are actively trying to escape. All our services are free, confidential and survivor centered. Have questions about what services are available? Visit us at 1418 E. Pythian Street or give us a call at 417-874-2600. We are open 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For after-hours assistance, call the Harmony House/Victim Center’s 24-hour safe line at 417-864-SAFE (7233). If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.