Unmasking emotional abuse

Here’s how to identify the signs and set boundaries

- Gita Hari

If gaslighting, trivialising, love bombing, stonewalling connote the abusive partner, silent treatment, grey rocking, boundaries, taking space are the new-age terms to identify emotional abuse and give back to harmful manipulative partners.

Hold off toxic, detrimental companions or take space in alarming relationships. Do not let them make you feel bad. Ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10), experts tell us how to recognise and tackle narcissists, control freaks and overbearing persons in serious relationships.

Psychological abuses

Are you being humiliated, threatened, punished, or harassed in other ways using scheming methods by your spouse, partner, best friend?

"If your answer is “yes” to any of the above, it is time to pull up your socks and stand up for yourself. Mental abuse by your partner includes calling names, passing derogatory remarks on your physical, rational, or other abilities, and blaming you for the mistakes made by him/her. This eventually leads to your low self-esteem, compromised emotional balance, a feel of worthlessness, anxiety, and frustration," explains Clinical Psychologist Savitri Nair.

Many times, being so deeply involved in a relationship disables one to concede or acknowledge it as an abuse. Recognise the different forms of mental abuse to rebuild your self-esteem.

Gaslighting:

It incorporates coercive power, psychological exploitation and manipulative communication by a narcissistic person to make the partner become sceptical of his/her rationality and perception. The victim may be isolated from family and friends by spreading lies with the result of not getting any validation or external support. The motive is to cause loss of faith in oneself and create confusion. It can last for months and even years until the target realises the abuse and seeks help.

Trivialising: