Abuse can cause prolonged distress and suffering to the survivors. The abuse can be Emotional, Physical or Sexual
Emotional abuse:
Research suggests that between 50 and 80 percent of adults may experience emotional abuse in their lifetime, although the concept is difficult to reliably measure.
Emotional abuse is a hidden form of maltreatment and one of the hardest forms of abuse to recognize. It can be subtle and insidious or overt and manipulative. Either way, it chips away at the person’s self-esteem and they begin to doubt their perceptions and reality.
There are many actions that can be considered emotionally abusive such as controlling, degrading, terrorising, criticising, isolating, making unreasonable demands, undermining, humiliating, shaming, silent treatment, etc.
According to one study, severe emotional abuse can be as damaging as physical abuse. The effects of prolonged emotional abuse can have long-term effects on the brain and body and may include:
• lack of self-esteem
• fear
• negative thoughts
• angry outbursts
• nightmares
• lack of self-belief
• depression
• stigmatisation
• future relationship issues
• feelings of responsibility
• insomnia
• chronic pain
• social withdrawal or loneliness
• guilt
• anxiety
• headaches
• eating disorders
• substance abuse
The study also suggested that emotional abuse may contribute to the development of chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. In some cases, it may lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Physical abuse
It can be domestic violence or violence outside of the family. In most cases, children are the victims of physical abuse, but adults can also be victims, as in cases of domestic violence, workplace aggression, …
Physical abuse can have lasting effects on the physical and mental health. Some of those effects can be:
• injury (in extreme cases, death)
• depression
• emotional distress
• anxiety
• PTSD
• Fear
• lack of self-esteem
• misuse alcohol or drugs
• eating disorders
• chronic health problems, including heart problems, high blood pressure, and digestive problems
Sexual abuse
It describes any type of sexual activity that is unwanted. There are many different types of abuse, including those we’re more familiar with (such as rape and child sexual abuse) and those we may be less aware of (like female genital mutilation and sexual exploitation).
Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, at any stage of their lives. People might feel alone but in reality one in three women has experienced some type of sexual abuse.
The effects of sexual abuse are:
• PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder
• Addictions
• Powerlessness
• Self-esteem issues
• Stigmatisation
• Sexual dysfunction
• Self-injury
• Feelings of responsibility
• Boundary issues
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Relationship issues
• Borderline personality disorder
• Body image / awareness
• Emotional disturbance
• Body memory
• Other disorders
For any abused related disorders I help my clients with Evidence-based interventions include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as well as hypnotherapy, EMDR, EMIT and EFT; all of which specifically target negative subconscious patterns and distorted beliefs.
