What is Childhood Abuse?
Childhood abuse is multilayered. Neglect and physical and sexual abuse are always accompanied by devastating emotional damage. This childhood abuse can appear as aggressive actions of harm as well as passive failures to act.
Does Worry Stem from Your Childhood?
I believe a negative pattern of worry is established in childhood, based upon life circumstances, experiences, and perceptions. So, in order to find a way out, you need to be able to backtrack along your way in, to where worry started in the first place.
Emotional Abuse: The Effects on Sense of Self
Any kind of abuse, emotional abuse included, is an attack on a person’s sense of self. It demeans and controls that person through words or actions, devaluing that person and ultimately elevating the abuser.
Controlling the Volume on Negative Messages
Negative messages need to be turned up, but only so you can evaluate them; they are not meant to be cranked up for the rest of your life. The goal of turning up the volume of negative thoughts is so you an really hear what they’re saying and learn to put those messages in their proper context.
Stepping out of Blame Mode in Emotional Abuse
When dealing with your emotional abuse, it may be easy to view things with tunnel vision. All you may see is the pain and damage of the abuse. You may not see some of the reasons behind it. Nothing can explain it away.
Four Attachment Styles in Relationships Dependency
Attachment theory highlights the importance of a strong, healthy attachment in childhood. This important attachment comes at the earliest stages of life to a parent or primary caregiver, usually a mother. This first, fundamental attachment, or relationship, sets the stage for all relationships going forward.
Radar Love: Attracting Abusive Relationships
It seems some people have an uncanny ability to attract the “wrong” kinds of people in relationships. I have heard clients describe themselves as having a “radar” whereby the wrong kind of people seems to be able to pick them out in a crowd. ...Recognizing the Put-Down Artist in Emotional Abuse
“So you really think you can get that job, huh? What a joke! Why in the world would anyone want to hire you?” Jeff’s older brother sneered at him with disgust. “Well, I guess because I’m a hard worker and I’m willing to learn,” Jeff responded angrily, feeling that...
How Victimization Leads to Anger
Along with tying your identity to your anger, there is also a temptation to define yourself as a victim: once a victim, always a victim. This negative, fatalistic approach has its perceived positives. If you consider yourself a victim, you have a familiar template...
Identifying Spiritual Abuse in Relationships
Spiritual abuse is used as a way to manipulate and control, and it usurps divine authority in order to promote self, which is the opposite of what God does.
Shedding Light on Familial Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse between family members is unfortunately common, and understandably very difficult to confront. If you are the victim of sexual abuse or aware of sexual abuse taking place in your family, please seek help. Do not allow the abuse to continue in silence....