The National Commission for Women (NCW) received more than 6,500 complaints in 2022 regarding the protection of women against domestic violence. In total, nearly 31,000 complaints were reportedly filed about crimes against women.
According to a Times of India report, NCW received a total of 30,800 cases in 2022 compared to around 23,700 in 2021. The majority of complaints are related to emotional abuse.
According to NCW data accessed by PTI, women’s right to live with dignity, which takes into account psychological abuse, covered up to 9,710 of the 30,957 complaints. Domestic violence covered 6,970 complaints. and 4,600 cases of dowry harassment.
What is Emotional Abuse?
Emotionally controlling others by criticizing, humiliating, shaming, blaming, or otherwise manipulating them is known as emotional abuse. Mental or emotional abuse occurs most frequently in dating and marriage relationships, but it can occur in any relationship, including relationships with friends, family, and co-workers.
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A relationship is generally considered emotionally abusive if there is a pattern of abusive language or bullying behavior that erodes a person’s self-esteem and jeopardizes their mental health.
The main purpose of emotional abuse is to isolate, discredit, silence, and control the other person. He is one of the hardest types of abuse to spot as he can be mean and subtle. However, it is also blatantly deceptive.
In either case, emotional abuse can damage self-esteem and may begin to question self-perceptions and reality. Those who have experienced emotional abuse are often too hurt to continue the relationship and too scared to end it.
What are the signs of emotional abuse?
There are many signs of emotional abuse. Remember, emotionally abusive relationships still exist even when partners, parents, co-workers, or friends engage in a few, but not all, of these behaviors.
When thinking about relationships, it should be kept in mind that emotional abuse is often hidden. As a result, warning signs can be very difficult to spot. If you’re having a hard time deciding if your relationship is abusive, consider how your interactions make you feel.
If you constantly feel hurt, irritated, confused, misunderstood, depressed, anxious, or worthless every time you interact with another person, then your relationship is emotionally challenged. likely to have been abused.
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What types of emotional abuse are there?
There are various ways in which emotional abuse manifests itself.
1. accusations of infidelity or other jealous or possessive behavior;
2. Constantly watching or trying to control other people’s behavior
3. Constantly arguing and disagreeing
4. Criticize
5. EXCLUSION FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
6. Slander and abuse
7. Refusal to Participate in Partnership
8. Blame or Insult
9. Quiet treatment
10. Minimize worrying about others
11. Avoid showing love and attention
As a relationship develops, these forms of emotional abuse may be used to initiate manipulation and control even when the relationship initially appears normal and loving. , which you may not notice at first.
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Consequences of Emotional Abuse
Research shows that the effects of emotional abuse are just as harmful as physical abuse. But instead of visible scars and bruises, your scars are hidden in feelings of worthlessness, self-loathing, and self-doubt that you may experience.
When emotional abuse is severe and persistent, it can lead to a loss of a whole sense of self. Your sense of self can be so badly damaged over time by blame, verbal abuse, slander, criticism, and gaslighting that you can no longer see yourself objectively.
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As a result, you may begin to agree with your abuser and develop inner suspicions. When this happens, you are stuck in an abusive relationship because you start to think that no one will ever like you. You may become isolated from your friendship.
Friendships can be affected by emotional abuse because people who have experienced emotional abuse frequently worry about how others perceive them and whether they really like them.
Additionally, emotional abuse can lead to many health problems. Abuse can negatively impact mental health in the form of depression, anxiety, and sometimes the emergence of eating disorders. Physical effects of emotional abuse include the development of stomach ulcers, heart palpitations, and insomnia.
Advice on how to deal with emotional abuse
Recognizing abuse is the first step in dealing with an emotionally abusive relationship. If possible, it is important, first and foremost, to acknowledge instances of emotional abuse in your relationship.
By being honest about what you are going through, you can regain control of your life.
Put yourself first when it comes to physical and mental health. Stop trying to appease your abuser. We will do our best to meet your needs.
Make it clear to the abuser that you will no longer tolerate yelling, swearing, insults, or disrespect.
If you’ve been in an emotionally abusive relationship for a while, you might think there’s something seriously wrong. But you don’t have a problem. Abuse involves decisions. Stop blaming yourself for things you can’t control.
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Remember that you cannot control their actions and their decisions are not your fault. You have complete control over how you react to emotional abuse.
Avoid interacting with abusive people. In other words, try to justify your actions, appease your abuser’s anger, start arguing with you, insult you, make demands of you, or rage out of jealousy. If you do, don’t apologize for what you did.
Last but not least, if your partner, friend, or family member isn’t willing to change or work on their bad choices, you can’t go on with an abusive relationship forever. adversely affect your mental and physical health.
Depending on the situation, you may need to take action to break up with the person. Every situation is unique. So discuss your thoughts and ideas with a close friend, family member, or counselor. In addition to its long-term negative effects, emotional abuse also acts as a harbinger of physical abuse and other forms of violence.
