Can Emotional Abuse Cause Mental Illness?

Emotional abuse is a form of abuse that involves controlling another person by using emotions, which can have a lasting impact on their mental health. Unlike physical abuse, where there are visible scars, emotional abuse is subtle and can be very difficult to spot. However, emotional abuse can significantly impact one’s sense of self-worth, relationships, and emotional and mental stability. Thus, emotional abuse can contribute to the development of various mental health issues.

Understanding Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse involves behaviours that are aimed at controlling or demeaning someone. It often includes tactics like manipulation, verbal insults, threats, humiliation, and gaslighting (causing the victim to question their perception of reality). Over time, these behaviours can harm the victim’s sense of worth, leading them to feel powerless, which makes it even more difficult for them to leave the relationship  Emotional abuse can occur in any relationship, such as parent-child, dating or married couples, and even in work relationships. A few types of emotional abuse are:

• Invalidating the victim’s feelings
• Constant verbal abuse or insults
• Constant attempts to control the other person’s behaviours
• Threatening the other person
• Isolating the person from their family and friends
• Refusing to contribute to the relationship
• Shifting blame or accusing the other person

Emotional Abuse And Mental Illness

Since emotional abuse has a huge impact on a person’s sense of self-worth and emotional stability, it can lead to various mental health conditions such as:

• Depression

Emotional abuse can make a person feel a deep sense of sadness along with feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. Apart from this, the constant criticism and invalidation of one’s feelings can lead a person to form an extremely negative perception of themselves, which can contribute to low self-esteem and depression. A study conducted in 2022 found that emotional abuse was a significant predictor of depression in adolescents.

• Anxiety

When someone is constantly criticised, they may live in a constant state of fear and hypervigilance, leading to the development of anxiety disorders. A study published in 2006 found that people with social phobia or social anxiety report a high level of emotional abuse in childhood.

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Prolonged exposure to emotional abuse can result in PTSD. A study published in 2021 found that emotional abuse from parents was associated with more severe symptoms of PTSD as compared to any other forms of maltreatment in childhood.

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Emotional abuse, especially when experienced in childhood, has been linked to the development of BPD. This disorder is characterised by intense fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, mood swings, and difficulty regulating emotions. Research published in 2015 found that the frequency of emotional abuse in childhood was associated with the severity of BDP symptoms.

• Other Mental Health Issues

Emotional abuse can also lead to other mental health concerns, such as substance abuse, eating disorders and even dissociative disorders. Apart from these, emotional abuse can lead to other mental health issues such as self-harm or suicidal ideation and issues with sleep. 

Healing From Emotional Abuse

Healing from emotional abuse may seem difficult or even overwhelming, but one can deal with and recover from it using the following strategies:

• Set Boundaries

While it may seem difficult at first, setting boundaries and clearly communicating what isn’t acceptable can help protect oneself from emotional abuse.

• Self-Care

Prioritizing physical and mental well-being through activities like exercise, meditation, or hobbies can help victims reconnect with themselves and rebuild their confidence.

• Build A Support System:

Surrounding oneself with supportive friends and family members can provide emotional support, validation and encouragement to deal with emotional abuse.

• Don’t Argue Or Try To Change The Other Person

It is important to accept that the abuser is unlikely to change and to avoid engaging in arguments or attempts to convince them to alter their behaviour. This may only bring more frustration.

• Focus on Being Independent

Start focusing on being emotionally independent and prioritizing your goals. This will help one plan ahead for the future and break away from the control of the abusive person.

 

• Seek Professional Support 

Therapy can be extremely beneficial for victims of emotional abuse. A therapist can help them by providing a safe space to express their emotions while also providing them with tools to improve their self-esteem.

Conclusion

In summary, emotional abuse can have a long-term impact on one’s mental health, leading to issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, BPD and even other issues such as substance abuse. However, emotional abuse may not lead to mental illness for all people, as there are other influential factors as well. Lastly, it is important to remember that one can help from the impact of emotional abuse by seeking help at the right time.

References:

1. Emotional abuse and PTSD: Links and more. (2023, September 28). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ptsd-from-emotional-abuse
2. Gibb, B. E., Chelminski, I., & Zimmerman, M. (2007). Childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and diagnoses of depressive and anxiety disorders in adult psychiatric outpatients. Depression and Anxiety, 24(4), 256–263. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20238
3. Haferkamp, L., Bebermeier, A., Möllering, A., & Neuner, F. (2015). Dissociation is associated with emotional maltreatment in a sample of traumatized women with a history of child abuse. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation: The Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD), 16(1), 86–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2014.959149
4. Hoeboer, C., de Roos, C., van Son, G. E., Spinhoven, P., & Elzinga, B. (2021). The effect of parental emotional abuse on the severity and treatment of PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 111, 104775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104775
5. Kuo, J. R., Khoury, J. E., Metcalfe, R., Fitzpatrick, S., & Goodwill, A. (2015). An examination of the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and borderline personality disorder features: The role of difficulties with emotion regulation. Child Abuse & Neglect, 39, 147–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.08.008
6. The Relationship Between Child Abuse and BPD. (n.d.). Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from https://www.verywellmind.com/the-relationship-between-child-abuse-and-bpd-425153
7. Why It May Not Be Easy to Spot Emotional Abuse. (n.d.). Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from https://www.verywellmind.com/identify-and-cope-with-emotional-abuse-4156673
8. Zhou, X., & Zhen, R. (2022). How do physical and emotional abuse affect depression and problematic behaviors in adolescents? The roles of emotional regulation and anger. Child Abuse & Neglect, 129, 105641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105641