Psychological and emotional abuse

Psychological or emotional abuse is when someone uses behaviour to control, frighten, or manipulate another person. It is often about power and control in a relationship.

This abuse can include:

• Blaming, shaming, or guilting someone repeatedly
• Threatening, intimidating, or isolating them
• Controlling what they do, who they see, or where they go
• Constantly criticising or undermining them

Emotional abuse can be hard to spot because there may be no physical signs. But it is just as serious and harmful as other forms of abuse. 

It can cause lasting damage to a person’s confidence, wellbeing, and mental health.

There are many support services for those suffering from psychological and emotional abuse.