- We humans do not seem to understand how much damage our words could cause. Sometimes we just say words as they come to us regardless of how it affects the person we are communicating with.
Anything that causes the victim to feel degraded, guilty, invalidated or humiliated may be a result of emotional abuse. While this list does not include every form of emotional abuse, nor does using one of these phrases necessarily indicate a partner is abusive, the following list may help you evaluate whether your relationship is suffering from emotional abuse or not.
Get over yourself
Rather than validating feelings, this phrase implies that the person who needs to “get over it” is overreacting. This is a form of degrading— a type of abuse where the abuser makes the victim feel like they’re crazy.
You are entitled to your feelings and to express them. Your partner should not disregard them.
It’s non of your business
Communication in an exclusive relationship is definitely on a need to know basis — meaning, if you feel you have a need to know, you should know. Your partner shouldn’t define that for you because, really, healthy relationships are not built on secrets. You know what sounds good? ‘I need you to know this’
Err I Love you but…
Don’t ever use but after the phrase ‘I Love you’ if you are willing to keep the person though. If your spouse expresses love to you and have something to say after, they don’t really love you. Rather than building you up as expressions of love should, this decreases your self-esteem, leading you to believe that your abuser is the only person who could “put up” with you. You know what sounds good? …but I love you!
“Your problem is … “
This phrase masquerades as constructive criticism, alerting you to your issues so that you can improve. However, abusers use this phrase repeatedly to destroy the victim’s self-esteem by making them hyper-aware of their flaws. You know what sounds good? ‘This is what makes you unique’
“I don’t know what you’re talking about”
Another form of degrading, this form of abuse makes it seem like you don’t know what you’re talking about. Someone who loves you will try to see your point of view instead of disregarding it. You know what sounds good? ‘Explain that to me, I love the way your lips move when you talk’
“It’s for your own good”
Abusers may try to make you feel as though they’re trying to help you. However, what they’re doing is really for their own good. It also places the abuser in a place of authority, which can make the victim feel dependent on their abuse. You know what sounds good? ‘I only want to make you happy every moment’
So you are angry for that small thing
If you feel uncomfortable about something, but your partner insists that you are being too sensitive about some good “fun,” they are emotionally abusing you. If the teasing doesn’t feel good or you are consistently the butt of the joke, it is not healthy. You what sounds good? ‘I am sorry what I said hurt, how can I unsay it’
You caused it
While at times you need to accept responsibility for your actions, you shouldn’t feel persistently guilty. No matter what, your partner is responsible for his or her own actions. You are not the cause of their actions. They should not make you feel guilty for things that they did. You know what sounds good? ‘Don’t worry love, these things happen’
8 phrases that destroy relationships slowly
