Is My Partner Emotionally Abusive? 5 Signs the Answer is Yes

Emotional and psychological abuse is a pervasive problem in many relationships. The victim of this type of abuse may feel consistently demoralized, inferior, incompetent, depressed, and even question his or her own sanity. Unfortunately, it is the nature of this kind of abuse that convinces the victim that what is being said about him or her is true. Thus, many victims of emotional and psychological abuse are virtually unaware it is being done to them, instead taking the blame for their depression and the various problems in the relationship. Here are 5 signs that you are in an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship:
1. Your partner puts you down, in public or in private. These insults may be blatant name calling, or more subtle criticisms of the way you do certain activities, your character traits, morality, or state of mental health.
2. Your partner attempts to control or influence your activities on a regular basis. You may feel obligated to give an account each day of your activities, and justify or defend your decisions and choices about how you spent your time. You may even feel pressured to choose "acceptable" activities that your partner approves of, rather than doing what you would choose to do.
3. Your partner attempts to limit your exposure or access to friends and family outside of the relationship. You may be expressly forbidden to see someone, or the pressure may be more subtle, such as saying, "I can't believe you would choose to go see him or her over spending time with me." Your partner may complain that since your family doesn't like him, he does not want to be around those people and expects you will stop seeing them as well. This tactic serves the abuser in two ways. It asserts his or her control over your choices and activities, and it also prevents your loved ones form either offering you positive messages about you, or criticisms or your partner or the relationship.
4. Your partner uses sex as a weapon or tool for manipulation. This may take the form of demanding you fulfill his or her need or desire for intimacy whenever it is expressed, regardless of your own readiness or mental state. It may manifest in the opposite manner, with your partner denying you intimacy and physical affection in an attempt to keep you feeling inferior, rejected, undesirable, and under his or her thumb.
5. Your partner implies there will be non-physical consequences if you do not comply with his or her demands. This threat may be peppered with occasional acts of kindness or generosity, but the kindness is short lived. Once you have been drawn back into the relationship and have developed false hope again, the emotionally abusive behavior will re-emerge.
Are you interested in addressing your life challenges from a holistic standpoint, assessing the physical, emotional, and relationship components?