Emotional Abuse

Being the victim of emotional abuse can be a complex and devastating experience. There is no exhaustive list of the types of actions that constitute emotional abuse. Ultimately it depends on the individual circumstances of your relationship. Emotional abuse may not leave you with a physical scar, however the effect on your self-esteem and confidence can be just as crippling.

What does emotional abuse in a relationship look like?

Emotional abuse can involve any of the following behaviours:

1. Taunting, swearing, insulting or yelling at you.
2. Bullying.
3. Rejecting you, by pretending not to notice you, or ignoring you, or refusing to be associated with you.
4. Causing you to feel afraid or intimidated.
5. Putting you down, by calling your worthless.
6. Isolating you from your family and friends, and stopping you from making new relationships.
7. Restricting your financial independence.

These are only some examples, and your experiences may be different.

How to end an emotionally abusive relationship

Ending an emotionally abusive relationship requires motivation, support and bravery.  You should think about giving the following suggestions a try. The more of these you tick off the list, the easier it will be for you to sever the tie:

1. Commit to leaving.
2. Reach out to friends and family.
3. Work towards achieving financial independence.
4. Tell a professional. There are a number of services in the community available to provide counselling, welfare assessment and safety plans.
5. Contact a family law lawyer. It may be that obtaining a property settlement is the only means available for you to obtain true financial independence. We can assist you to divide the assets once and for all.

Book a free confidential discussion with our lawyers.

Our solicitors are experienced in dealing with clients who have sensitive circumstances at home, and require a little extra care and attention. We are very aware of the dangers that an abusive spouse can pose, and are accustomed to dealing with clients discretely and effectively. If you feel that you need family law advice, our solicitors are ready to help.