Alright, I've written an article or two on this topic. Emotional abuse is either extremely under-rated in the sense that it IS a serious problem and it does cause a lot of damage. Some think it's not a real problem, or an "over-reaction". No. Then you have those who romanticize the idea of emotional abuse. They glorify the idea of over-possessive partners and think it's okay to be controlled and belittled. No.

Emotional abuse is a real, serious problem. It's not okay, and it's not excusable. And it's far more common than we think. I'm seeing it everywhere. Whether it's being idealized by someone on my Facebook feed, or whether I'm witnessing my friends suffer through a real, mentally abusive relationship. Not only does this sadden me, it infuriates me. The fact that people being controlled by their every move is common. The fact that people being manipulated to believe they're to blame for everything is common. The fact that so many are being sabotaged, criticized, and forced to isolate themselves for the sake of the one they love. And then people brush it off like it's nothing?

Let me tell you, it's not nothing. It's been almost two years since I left my emotionally abusive relationship, and I still suffer from it everyday. It has affected every relationship after, and probably always will. It has also affected my ability to even be in relationships. They terrify me. Hell, people terrify me. I seriously believed whole-heartedly that I was worthless and deserved every card I was dealt. It was THE hardest thing in the world learning to love myself and realizing my worth. And some people either never make it out of the relationship to realize that they are worth much more, or they never believe they're worth anything after what they've been manipulated to believe by the one they love.

I witnessed someone say "Emotional abuse, blah, blah, blah". We see it as someone "over-reacting". We see it as a small issue. "Oh, it's not physical abuse, so..." NO. This world already tries its hardest to make us hate who we are. When someone you love more than anyone else blames you, manipulates you, convinces you you're nothing, that takes a huge toll on your mentality, and it always will. This is not a small issue. It is a massive, growing issue.

So many people I love have been in a toxic relationship like this or are in one now. I see them excuse their partner's behavior because of how little they feel in comparison to their partner. I see them hurt, and let themselves be hurt repeatedly. I see them go back after they almost got out because they now believe they'll never get better. It's all too familiar to me. It breaks my heart how normal we think this is. It's so common, that we think it's just something that happens all the time. Which yes, it does. That doesn't make it less of an issue, it makes it more of an issue. So many will forever have their mentality warped to believe so may false accusations of themselves. So many will forever wonder if they are even worth anything.

I don't know about you, but I see a huge problem here. A problem that needs some spotlight, and needs fixing. Bottom line, never undermine emotional abuse. It's painful, and even when the relationship is over, it still strikes great pain daily. Never glorify it. It is hell, there is nothing romantic about thinking you're worth less than nothing, and your partner reminding you of that. Never excuse it. THERE. IS. NO. EXCUSE. If they are manipulative, controlling, and/or over possessive, they are ABUSIVE. Yes, abusive. You don't need physical force to be abusive. Not all wounds are visible.