psychological abuse
Emotional harm pattern
Psychological abuse is a pattern of behavior that damages someone's mental health or sense of self-worth through manipulation, intimidation, isolation, or emotional cruelty.
Unlike physical abuse, it leaves no visible marks but can be equally destructive: Years of psychological abuse had convinced her she was worthless.
Common tactics include gaslighting, constant criticism, threats, and controlling behavior.
Also called emotional abuse or mental abuse.
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- isolationComplete separation from others
guilt-tripping · blame-shifting · love-bombing · silent treatment · triangulation · withholding · stonewalling · crazy-making
Lasting psychological wound
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- low self-esteemNegative view of oneself
hypervigilance · dissociation · learned helplessness · self-doubt · confusion · fear · trust issues · emotional numbness
Superior influence over others
- power imbalanceUnequal distribution of control
- subjugationForcing into submission
- coercive controlOngoing pattern of domination
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
restriction · dependency · decision-making · permission · checking up · surveillance · possessiveness · jealousy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- trauma-informedAware of wounding's effects
- healingRestoration of health
- survivorOne still alive after
support groups · no contact · boundaries · mental health · resilience · self-compassion · validation · safety planning
Self-obsessed person
- bullyHabitual intimidator
- tormentorOne who causes anguish
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
- enablerOne who facilitates harmful behavior
flying monkeys · toxic · predatory · pattern · escalation · remorse · minimizing · denial
Of the home
- parent-childCaregiver-descendant relation
- workplaceEmployment location
- institutionalOf formal establishments
- cultFervent fringe group
religious · sibling · caregiver · familial · relational · childhood · spousal · coworker
gaslighting
Manipulation causing self-doubt
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
isolation · guilt-tripping · blame-shifting · love-bombing · silent treatment · triangulation · withholding · stonewalling · crazy-making · threats
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
low self-esteem · hypervigilance · dissociation · learned helplessness · self-doubt · confusion · fear · trust issues · emotional numbness · shame
dominance
Superior influence over others
- power imbalanceUnequal distribution of control
- subjugationForcing into submission
- coercive controlOngoing pattern of domination
monitoring · restriction · dependency · decision-making · permission · checking up · surveillance · possessiveness · jealousy · entitlement
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- trauma-informedAware of wounding's effects
- healingRestoration of health
survivor · support groups · no contact · boundaries · mental health · resilience · self-compassion · validation · safety planning · empowerment
narcissist
Self-obsessed person
enabler · flying monkeys · toxic · predatory · pattern · escalation · remorse · minimizing · denial · rationalization
domestic
Of the home
- parent-childCaregiver-descendant relation
- workplaceEmployment location
- institutionalOf formal establishments
cult · religious · sibling · caregiver · familial · relational · childhood · spousal · coworker · authority figure
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- manipulationgaslighting, guilt tripping, blame-shifting, brainwashing, guilt trip
- domestic abusedomestic violence, battering, batterer, wife beating, intimate partner violence
- elder abuseelder neglect, elder fraud, senior neglect, caregiver neglect, elder rights
- thrillerssuspense, thriller, nail-biter, page-turner, cliffhanger
- harmharming, injury, hurting, injuring, burn
psychological abuseemotional support
Compassionate help during distress
unconditional love · affirmation · encouragement · emotional safety · psychological support
psychological abusephysical abuse
Intentional bodily harm
physical violence · bodily harm · sexual abuse · physical assault · battery
abuse, misuse, abused, abusive, abuser, psychology, misused, abuses, abusing