Dr. David B. Hawkins, describes how to heal from emotional abuse trauma and begin recovery. In any emotionally destructive marriage, you feel like you are constantly walking on eggshells around your spouse. Are you afraid that you may set off your partner with the wrong word or behavior? Do you feel worthless, never quite living up to your spouse’s expectations?
If you answered yes to these questions, you may be in an emotionally destructive marriage and struggling through the silent killer of emotional abuse. Despite the secretive nature of emotional abuse in homes across the country, it is a real struggle that needs to be openly discussed and confronted.
How to Heal From Emotional Abuse Trauma
Emotional abuse trauma can have a profound impact on our well-being, leaving us feeling unsafe and stifling our personal growth. Unfortunately, many relationships and marriages experience emotional abuse, which can be incredibly destructive. If you find yourself in such a situation, it is crucial to take steps towards ending the emotional abuse and healing from the trauma it has caused. In this article, we will explore how to acknowledge emotional abuse trauma, the importance of intervention, and the need for appropriate treatment in the healing process.
Acknowledging the Emotional Abuse
The first step towards healing from emotional abuse trauma is acknowledging that it exists in your relationship. It can be challenging, as the person perpetrating the abuse may deny its existence, rewriting history or blaming you for the situation. They may rationalize, minimize, or sanitize their destructive behaviors, making it difficult for you to recognize the abuse. To overcome emotional abuse trauma, it is crucial to educate yourself about the signs of emotional abuse and understand the language associated with it. Learn to recognize when someone is rationalizing their harsh, critical, or derogatory words and actions, as well as when they are trying to make something destructive seem less severe.
Enabling and Intervention
Enabling refers to any action or inaction that allows a destructive behavior to continue. If you find yourself tiptoeing around the abusive person or colluding with their actions, you are enabling the abuse to persist. To end emotional abuse, intervention is necessary. Intervention is like sticking a stick in the spokes of a bicycle tire—it brings everything to a halt. However, intervening requires immense courage and support. You must be able to say, “This is abusive and destructive. It must stop, and I will no longer tolerate it.” Seek assistance from friends, family, or professionals who can help you intervene effectively.
Seeking Appropriate Treatment
Intervention alone is not enough to heal from emotional abuse trauma. It must be followed by appropriate treatment to address the underlying issues. It is crucial to understand that emotional abuse is a destructive behavior that causes harm and threatens your well-being. By seeking professional help and support, you can ensure that you receive the right level of intervention and treatment. Just as you wouldn’t treat a brain tumor as a simple headache, it is essential to address the problem at its root. If the abuse stops after intervention, it indicates that you have used an appropriate level of intervention. However, if the abuse persists or recurs, it suggests the need for stronger and more powerful intervention.
The Severity of Emotional Abuse Trauma and the Importance of Action
Emotional abuse is a severe issue that hinders personal and relational growth. Your marriage or relationship cannot thrive in an environment of abuse. Taking action is crucial for change to occur. Remember that the abuser is unlikely to wake up one day and realize the harm they are causing. It often takes a breakdown for there to be a breakthrough. Reach out for support and professional help to facilitate the intervention process. By addressing the emotional abuse, you can create a foundation for real hope and change.
In conclusion, healing from emotional abuse trauma requires acknowledging the presence of abuse, intervening effectively, and seeking appropriate treatment. Educate yourself about emotional abuse and its language, identify enabling behaviors, and gather the necessary support for intervention. Remember that it takes courage to break the cycle of abuse, but by doing so, you can create a safe and nurturing environment for your personal growth and well-being. Reach out for help, and remember that you are not alone in this journey towards healing and recovery.
To learn how we can help, reach out to us at (206) 219-0145 or info@marriagerecoverycenter.com to speak with a Client Care Specialist
Also read: Emotional Abuse Explained
About Dr. Hawkins:
The internet is inundated with hyperbole and misinformation about narcissism, leaving many people confused and hopeless. Get the facts on narcissism and emotional abuse from someone who has been researching, writing about and treating narcissism and emotional abuse for over a decade.
Dr. Hawkins is a best-selling author and clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience helping people break unhealthy patterns and build healthier relationships.
He is the founder and director of the Marriage Recovery Center and the Emotional Abuse Institute which offers education, training and counseling for people who want to break free of, and heal from, emotional abuse. Whether the perpetrator of the abuse is your spouse, partner, parent, boss, friend or family member, we offer practical advice for anyone trapped in a toxic, destructive relationship.
In addition to narcissism & emotional abuse, you’ll learn about the lesser known forms of abuse, including covert abuse, reactive abuse, spiritual abuse, secondary abuse, relationship trauma and much more.
