Have there ever been times when you felt guilt over something you did not do? Do you ever avoid engaging in activities you enjoy because you fear criticism or embarrassment from others? If you feel this way, did you know that you might be a victim of emotional abuse?

Emotional abuse continues to be a gravely troubling and frequently unnoticed issue in a society that is increasingly focused on increasing awareness about various forms of abuse.

It involves manipulation, degradation, and control, causing profound emotional wounds and eroded self-esteem. It can occur in various relationships and thrives on power imbalances, creating fear and dependency.

The effects can be devastating, leading to anxiety, depression, PTSD, and self-harm thoughts.

Some individuals are not given the necessary amount of love and care as children because of the dysfunctional homes in which they were raised. Some individuals were also raised in homes where they were subjected to ongoing emotional abuse.

Therefore, they evolve the mechanism of being in flight or fight mode from childhood on in order to survive. Thus, as adults, those individuals are enabled to experience difficulties in their relationships. There are numerous ways that emotional abuse and its symptoms manifest. 

In an Instagram post by Therapist Allyson Kellum-Aguirre, which was shared by Hindustan Times, she wrote, “Many people have experienced emotional abuse, which makes it important to understand the signs.”

Allyson further noted the signs of emotional abuse that are not commonly discussed.

‘Chronic guilt’

While discussing chronic guilt, Allyson shared that individuals who have experienced emotional abuse tend to feel like they are always doing something wrong.

This happens when they start blaming themselves for everything that occurs in their environment. Plus, they constantly apologise because they worry that they may not come across as likeable.

‘Being a doormat’

She also shared that such individuals are treated as a place where people can dump their emotions and feelings. They constantly feel afraid to speak up for themselves because they have a weak sense of self and worry that they will be abandoned if we do.

‘Second-guess yourself’

They second-guess themselves. According to the therapist, due to a lack of self-confidence and self-trust, victims of emotional abuse are constantly doubting their abilities and making excuses for their choices.

‘Fear of failure’

Another one of their biggest fears, as Allyson shared, is that they always feel that they are going to fail. This causes them intense anxiety.

‘Doubting reality’

People who experience emotional abuse are constantly in a state of self-doubt. They think that they might not be right, hence the fear of speaking up.

This includes their perception of reality and their narratives as well.

‘Difficulty articulating’

Another thing that sparks their fear of speaking up is that they constantly struggle to express themselves because they think they are not allowed to say anything.

‘Not good enough’

Emotional abuse can be toxic enough to insert a persistent belief among emotionally abused individuals that that they fall short. As a result, they become people-pleasers with little to no confidence in themselves.