Powerful Quotes on Emotional Abuse
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Emotional abuse can be one of the most damaging and insidious forms of abuse. It can erode a person’s sense of self-worth, leave them feeling helpless and hopeless, and cause long-term emotional trauma. This type of abuse can often be the most difficult to detect and escape from. The following quotes on emotional abuse will provide some insight into this form of abuse and its impact on you.
If you are experiencing emotional abuse, through reading the emotional abuse quotes, you will come to realize that this form of abuse starts off subtly and slowly changes your reality until one day you wake up and don’t recognize yourself.
Each of these emotional abuse quotes was carefully selected to help you remember that you are valuable and worthy of respect, love, and care and do not deserve to be treated badly.
Whether you are in the process of healing or just beginning the journey, these words of wisdom can serve as a reminder that you are strong, capable, and deserving of a life free of abuse, including emotional abuse.
One of the most powerful quotes is by American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, who said, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
This quote speaks to the power of resilience and the importance of not letting your experiences define you. Yes, you are going through a shitty situation, but in time, you can and will be free. Find the courage to make that choice for yourself.
Another quote, from author Terry Mark, is also poignant: “The greatest part of emotional abuse is that it chips away at your self-esteem until you feel powerless to escape.”
Such words remind you that while we may feel powerless in your current situation, we always have the power to take action and break free.
So if you are in a toxic relationship, use the quotes as a reminder of your own power and, where possible, take action.
What is Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is a form of abuse that is often overlooked but is just as damaging as physical and sexual abuse. It involves the use of words and actions to control, manipulate, and degrade another person. It can be verbal, such as name-calling, or non-verbal, like the silent treatment or stonewalling.
The goal of emotional abuse is to make you, the victim, feel powerless and unworthy, and to isolate you from your friends and family.
It can also involve controlling behaviors, such as monitoring or restricting your activities or manipulating you into doing something you don’t want to do.
The deliberate humiliation and mental cruelty of a man’s emotional abuse result in wounds of the heart that have a devastating effect on your mental and emotional well-being, leading to anxiety, depression, and even feelings of hopelessness.
If you or someone you know is in an emotionally abusive relationship, it’s important to seek professional help. Remember, you don’t deserve to be treated like this, it’s not your fault, and you cannot take on the responsibility for someone else’s behavior.
Signs of Emotional Abuse
It’s important that you are aware of the signs and red flags of emotional abuse so that you can recognize and address the problem early on. There are many types of emotional abuse, and some of the signs include:
- disrespect
- constant criticism
- control
- manipulation
- blame
- humiliation
- isolation
If you recognize any of these behaviors, it’s important to take action. Seek support from trusted friends and family, and consider talking to a counselor or therapist.
Emotional abuse can take a toll on both your mental and physical health, so it’s essential to address it quickly and not ignore the signs.
If you have been isolated, and don’t have any support, reach out to the national domestic violence hotline, as they will be able to provide you with the necessary support, or leave a message in the comments below.
Quotes on Emotional Abuse
The following emotional abuse sayings will provide you with a better understanding of the psychological abuse you are experiencing. The abusive relationship quotes will also be helpful if a family member is a victim of emotional abuse and you need a greater appreciation of their situation and abusive partner so that you can offer the best form of support.
“Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it’s the place where we find the deepest heartache.”
Iyanla Vanzant
“Emotional abuse cuts to the very core of a person, creating scars that may be longer lasting than physical ones.”
Beverly Engel
“Most people inevitably get treated the way they permit themselves to be treated. If you allow someone to treat you like you’re worthless, then they will. Respect yourself enough not to put up with being mistreated.”
— Unknown
“Be gentle with your past selves for doing what they had to do to get through it.”
— Jordan Pickell
“Poisonous relationships can alter our perception. You can spend many years thinking you’re worthless… but you’re not worthless; you’re unappreciated.”
STEVE MARABOLI
“Victims of emotional abuse can experience more severe psychological reactions. A victim may feel their emotions are affected to such an extent that he or she no longer recognizes their own true feelings related to issues or situations the abuser is trying to control. As a result, the victim’s self-concept, confidence, and independence are systematically broken down.”
— Barrie Davenport
“Revenge is surviving, getting out, and being a better person than you were, and breaking the cycle.”
— Kristy Green
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
— Maya Angelou
“The only person that deserves a special place in your life is someone that never made you feel like you were an option in theirs.”
― Shannon L. Alder
“The abused partner tries so hard to prove his or her love and loyalty in the hopes that the abuser will finally wake up and connect in a healthy, loving, and mature way. Sadly, unless the abuser is highly motivated to change, this doesn’t happen without intervention.”
— Barrie Davenport
“You can’t control how others treat you, but you can always choose how you respond.”
– Unknown
“Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength.”
— Henry Rollins
“Emotional abuse is like a hammer that shatters the spirit.”
— Unknown
“Emotional abuse can be a sneakier form of manipulation because there are often no outward signs of the abuse.”
— Shannon Thomas
“Verbal abuse is still abuse: it’s abuse in the form of words.”
— Unknown
“It’s easier to put up walls than to risk being hurt again.”
— Unknown
“If someone is constantly putting you down, it’s time to move on.”
— Unknown
“Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.”
— Unknown
“Emotional abuse is like living in a roller coaster of ups and downs – one moment you’re praised and exalted, the next you’re cast down and criticized.”
– Beverly Engel, The Emotionally Abusive Relationship
“Emotional abuse is insidious: it can be loud, like name-calling, or quiet, like the absence of positive affirmation.”
– Demi Lovato
“Emotional abuse is the most common form of abuse – and yet least talked about.”
– Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker
“Emotional abuse is a form of brainwashing that slowly erodes the victim’s sense of self-worth, security, and trust in themselves and others.”
– Beverly Engel, The Emotionlly Abusive Relationship
“Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior used to manipulate, control, belittle and isolate the victim, making them feel powerless, ashamed and worthless.”
– Dr. Lisa Aronson Fontes, Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship
“Emotional abuse is like a trance—a psychological maneuver designed to confuse and control.”
– Beverly Engel
“The scars from mental cruelty can be as deep and long-lasting as wounds from punches or slaps but are often not as visible.”
– Jill Murray
“Emotional abuse is any kind of abuse that is emotional rather than physical in nature. It can include anything from verbal abuse and constant criticism to more subtle tactics, such as intimidation, manipulation, and refusal to ever be pleased.”
– Christina Steinorth
“Emotional abuse can be as powerful and devastating as physical abuse.”
– Fran Walfish
“If you are aware of chronic or severe mistreatment and do not speak out against it, your silence communicates implicitly that you see nothing unacceptable taking place. Abusers interpret silence as approval, or at least as forgiveness. To abused women, meanwhile, the silence means that no one will help- just what her partner wants her to believe. Anyone who chooses to quietly look the other way therefore unwittingly becomes the abuser’s ally.”
– Lundy Bancroft
“Abused women aren’t “co-dependent.” It is abusers not their partners, who create abusive relationships.”
– Lundy Bancroft
“Emotional abuse is a way of tearing down another person’s confidence and self-esteem, until they begin to doubt their own perceptions and reality.”
– Lundy Bancroft
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
– Mahatma Gandhi
“Bullies may be the perpetrators of evil, but it is the evil of passivity of all those who know what is happening and never intervene that perpetuates such abuse.”
– Philip Zimardo
“Domestic abuse happens only in intimate, interdependent, long term relationships – in other words, in families – the last place we would want or expect to find violence.”
– Leslie Morgan Steiner
“We should meet abuse by forbearance. Human nature is so constituted that if we take absolutely no notice of anger or abuse, the person indulging in it will soon weary of it and stop.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
“You may develop physical or emotional reactions to swallowing your anger, such as depression, nightmares, emotional numbing, or eating and sleeping problems, which your partner may use as an excuse to belittle you further or make you feel crazy.”
– Lundy Bancroft
“The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.”
– Astrid Alauda
“Some scars don’t hurt. Some scars are numb. Some scars rid you of the capacity to feel anything ever again.”
– Joyce Rachelle
“Verbal abuse is still abuse. It’s abuse in the form of words. Don’t assume that a few hurtful words won’t cost them their life. Words hurt.”
― Unknown
“Living with an emotional abuser means that you’re living in a constant state of stress.”
― Dr. Anne Brown
“Psychological invalidation is one of the most lethal forms of emotional abuse. It kills confidence, creativity and individuality.”
― Unknown
“People say you need to be strong, smart, and lucky to survive hard times, war, a natural disaster, or physical torture. But I say emotional abuse—anxiety, fear, guilt, and degradation—is far worse and much harder to survive.”
― Lisa See
“Never put your emotional health at risk by allowing a toxic family member to be abusive or disrespectful, especially with those who show no remorse or take accountability. Have enough self worth to know you deserve better and walk away. You can not have a healthy relationship with those who choose to abuse, disrespect, control and manipulate.”
― Unknown
“The results of any traumatic experience, such as abuse, can only be resolved by experiencing, articulating, and judging every facet of the original experience within a process of careful therapeutic disclosure.”
― Alice Miller
Psychological abuse. Where you don’t see it happening and by the time you do get a glimpse of reality your mind is left with so many scars, self-doubt, self-blame, anxiety, fear, depression, worry, stress, isolation, anger, guilt and pain, to name a few.”
― Unknown
“Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.”
– Unknown
“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.” – Mark Twain
Proverbs
Here are some proverbs that relate to emotional abuse:
- “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” English Proverb
- “Silent treatment is the ultimate weapon of the emotionally abusive person.” – Unknown
- “Verbal abuse is like water dripping on a rock. It may not seem like much, but over time it can wear away at even the strongest of foundations.” – Unknown
- “The tongue is mightier than the sword, but it can also be a weapon of destruction.” – Unknown
- “Words can be the most hurtful of all weapons. They can wound a person’s spirit and leave scars that never heal.” – Unknown
- “The tongue can paint what the eye can’t see.” Chinese Proverb
- “The tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart.” – Unknown
- “Words are like arrows; once released, they can never be recalled.” – Unknown
- “Words can be as cruel as physical blows, and sometimes even more damaging.” – Unknown
- “Emotional abuse is like a slow poison that contaminates your thoughts about yourself and your circumstances until you have completely lost touch with your true self.” – Unknown
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When it comes to toxic relationships, emotional abuse quotes can be a powerful way to reflect and gain insight into what you are going through. Often, when you are experiencing abuse, your reality changes, you don’t realize just how bad things are, and you take on the responsibility for the toxic relationship.
Additionally, quotes usually hit home, and I hope that these quotes can provide you with the courage to find a way out.
Whether you’re trying to heal from an abusive relationship or you’re trying to help a loved one, emotional abuse quotes can be a source of strength to start a new journey and create a better life for yourself.
Should you need assistance or are in danger, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Domestic abuse in any form is not okay; you deserve respect, kindness, and a life of authenticity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is emotional abuse, and how does it differ from other forms of abuse?
Emotional abuse involves manipulative behavior that harms a person’s emotional well-being, setting it apart from physical or verbal abuse, which may involve direct harm or threats of harm to one’s body or words.
2. Why are powerful quotes effective in addressing emotional abuse?
Powerful quotes resonate deeply with individuals, often conveying complex emotions and experiences in a succinct and relatable manner, making them effective tools for raising awareness about emotional abuse.
3. Can you provide examples of well-known individuals who have spoken out about emotional abuse through quotes?
Certainly, for instance, Maya Angelou’s quote, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time,” is a powerful reminder to trust one’s instincts and recognize signs of emotional abuse.
4. How can quotes on emotional abuse help survivors and those currently experiencing it?
Quotes on emotional abuse can provide validation and inspiration for survivors, reassuring them that they are not alone and offering strength to those currently experiencing it by affirming their worth.
5. Are there any common themes or patterns in these powerful quotes?
Yes, many quotes on emotional abuse often emphasize themes of self-worth, empowerment, and the importance of setting boundaries, reflecting the shared experiences of those affected by emotional abuse.
6. Where can readers find additional resources or support if they are dealing with emotional abuse?
Readers can seek additional resources and support through organizations like domestic violence hotlines, counseling services, and online support groups, where they can find guidance and assistance in coping with emotional abuse.
