6 Symptoms Of Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse should not be accompanied by aggressive language or loud tone. It is possible to use subtle means to intimidate us or make us feel inferior.
When we hear the word “abuse” we automatically think of physical assault. However, there is also verbal abuse which, while leaving no visible signs of harm, is just as harmful as physical abuse.
The problem is that in most of these cases the victim usually does not realize whether this happens or the consequences that it entails. In fact, it’s common for her to blame herself, which covers up the abuser.
Due to its lack of visibility, it is difficult to perceive if one is a victim. That is why you should watch out for the following symptoms:
Symptoms of verbal abuse
1. You are scared even if no one yells at you
We may mistakenly think that verbal abuse is synonymous with screaming, but this is not always the case. In reality, the verbal or psychological aggressor tends to manipulate and make doubt the victim himself.
The abuser may even use a kind and affectionate tone. That’s why you need to remember that just because someone isn’t behaving aggressively doesn’t mean they’re not violent. Threats can also be present, be they explicit or implicit.
Do you feel worried about how the other person might act if you don’t do something? Are you afraid of these comments all the time? Do you take care of every word and action so as not to disturb it?
2. You are compared or blamed for everything
We all like to respect our individuality and accept ourselves as we are. However, verbal abuse often undermines our self-confidence through comparisons and guilt.
No one likes to be told that another person is smarter, prettier, or complicates things by using a tone of reproach, mockery, or cruelty. Listening to it every day is a big blow to our self-esteem. In addition, this dynamic also generates feelings of guilt.
It is important to set limits and get out of this situation as soon as you identify it. . Nobody has no right to make you feel inferior, under any circumstances.
3. You feel intimidated all the time
You may notice that you are being verbally abused if you feel intimidated when you are around that person.
This signal can be very subtle, ranging from jokes, teasing, derogatory comments to inappropriate language that damages your self-esteem.
It goes without saying that bullying can reach more disturbing degrees and end up forcing you to do something that you don’t want to do or that you consider degrading.
4. You feel that you are being accused or questioned all the time
Another sign of verbal abuse is direct attacks derived from the lack of security and trust suffered by the violent person. In general, this lack of confidence is associated with low self-esteem, which makes you doubt your every move or action.
These questions and accusations may be gradual. You must therefore be vigilant to detect when the situation occurs. A common mistake is to start giving explanations to calm your fears. The problem is, over time, the situation will get worse.
5. You notice negative changes in your mood
As human beings, everything around us has an effect on us. Therefore, being the victim of some form of verbal abuse can leave us with several after-effects that we can identify if we pay attention to them.
Try to be aware of your mood when you are around others: can you distinguish those who make you happy? What about those who exhaust you?
If you identify that there is someone who constantly makes you uncomfortable or sad, it’s time to avoid them. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize that someone has the ability to affect you. But it is better to accept it and walk away from it.
It is very important to pay attention to how you are feeling beyond your expectations, because these people are usually very subtle in their psychological abuse.
If it’s your partner or someone you love, you should try to be objective so you can see what is causing the damage. Based on this, decide what steps you are going to take to remedy this situation.
6. You are the aggressor of another person
Human beings also learn by observing. In the case of abuse, unfortunately, many victims become abusers.
For example, a child who grew up in an environment in which his parents did not control their emotions will become a verbally aggressive adult because he has not learned to control his feelings.
Of course, there are ways to heal and break these vicious circles. The most recommended in this case is to find psychological help.
Take action against abuse and verbal violence
Recognizing and accepting that you are the victim of verbal abuse is not easy. Just remember that your well-being depends on paying attention to the situation you are living in.
Before you think about the reaction of the people around you or anything else, remember that your main concern should be yourself.
If in the presence of another person you don’t feel well most of the time, you have fears or insecurities about how they will react and turn to you to criticize you and point out that you are doing everything askew, set boundaries, and think about whether it is all worth it. And if the situation is out of your control, don’t hesitate and ask for help.
