Delaware County Community College

WHAT IS EMOTIONAL ABUSE?

You have been emotionally abused if another person has done any of the following to you:

  • Ignored your feelIngs or made fun of them.
  • Put down women as a group (for example called them crazy or stupid).
  • Withheld approval, appreciation, or affection to punish you.
  • Constantly criticized and called you names.
  • Told you nothing you do is ever good enough no matter what you do or how hard you try.
  • Yelled and screamed at you.
  • Insulted friends or family, driving you away.
  • Put you down in front of others.
  • Avoided socializing with you (for example goes out with you but then ignores you).
  • Kept you from working or going to school, controlled your money, made all the decisions, demanded that you ask permission to do or say, anything.
  • Didn't let you use the telephone, opened your mail.
  • Refused to work or provide a share of expenses.
  • Taken car keys or money.
  • Destroyed, sold, or given away things that were important or of value to you.
  • Kept you from talking to or seeing family or friends.
  • Threatened to hurt your family or friends.
  • Punished or kept things from the children when angry at you.
  • Treated the children extra nice, leaving you out, when angry at you.
  • Threatened to kidnap the children if you ever left.
  • Blamed you for any problems, real or made up, with the children.
  • Abused or killed pets to hurt you.
  • Bragged about affairs to hurt you.
  • Accused you of having affairs.
  • Tried to control you with lies or contradictions.
  • Threatened to commit suidde if you left.
  • Told you that it was your fault when a person abused you, that you asked for it, deserved it, or liked it.
  • Denied that the behavior is abusive or minimized it by calling you lazy or stupid, or telling you that you made it up.
  • Threatened to tell or told your employer or family that you are a lesbian in order to get you fired or have your children removed.
  • Threatened to use weapons against you