Mental Abuse: 3 Forms in Relationships That You May Not Realize Are Abuse
There are many unhappy relationships, and many of these relationships are abusive. Abuse is defined as an act that harms or injures another person. Mentally, this includes a person’s self-worth, well-being, and joy.
How To Recognize Abuse
Of course, there is a possibility that you just don’t notice that the relationship abuse is really abuse. You could view it as normal relationship behavior, but there is one truth when it comes to love, and that is that true love doesn’t hurt.
Following are 3 types of relationship abuse that I have seen a partner view these as part of a normal relationship.
1. The Silent Treatment
This is mental abuse at it’s worst. The silent treatment is a form of revenge that you have to live with when your partner makes you feel as though you are not important enough to your partner for them to acknowledge. It can rip your self-confidence apart and cause you to fear being honest with your partner so you don’t end up getting ignored again. When you are scared to speak your mind that is not love; that is a loss of freedom, and it is abusive.
2. Being Put Down
There are two types of criticism. First, there is constructive criticism that offers suggestions into how you can look at something differently. Then, there is disapproval type criticism that saysyou are completely wrong. If your partner is making you feel as though you are dumb, unintelligent, and always wrong, then this is not constructive criticism.
Relationship abuse happens when your partner criticizes you in a negative manner. They are consistently wrecking your self-confidence. A loving partner should be the wind beneath your wings and support you, encouraging you, and encouraging your dreams.
3. Not Treating You Equally
Do you go to work, cook and clean, and look after your partner?Are you constantly the one who has to take care of the house? Do you offer an ear for your partner but they don’t have the time to offer an ear for you? Do you support and encourage them, but they offer you nothing? Are they starting to become the star in the relationship? Do they expect the attention, acknowledgment, and catering to?
When your partners needs are more important than yours are, your partner may get a very big head, and you can start to lose your identity in the relationship. A relationship is supposed to be about mutual give and take. You cannot always give or recieve. When that happens, issues are obvious, and if your partner is doing this to you, then it is abusive to your mental health.
As you can see, abuse is not always apparent in the relationship. It happens every day to people all over the place, and it’s not right. If this sounds like your relationship, then you may want to reconsider the dynamic of the relationship, or even the relationship itself. You deserve to be happy, and abuse will never make you happy.
Bellaisa is the owner and main writer behind How do You Get a Guy, a website focused on women’s issues in dating, relationships, and self-improvement.
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