As Christians, we are not exempt from the problems of the world. Many of us ask for prayers in tough situations. In fact, some prayer requests I have read even recount signs of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse seems to surface often in romantic relationships and parent-child relationships, but it could be in employment settings or friendships, etc.
Signs of emotional abuse include:
- Blaming when it is inappropriate. Abusers cannot accept their own faults. They rarely apologize and will most often shift their own blame to the victim.
- Manipulating the victim's emotions by rejecting him/her. It is healthy sometimes for an angry person to walk away and cool off, but an abuser might refuse to communicate for the purpose of controlling their victim's emotions.
- Humiliating and isolating the victim. Abusers will often call their victim names and keep them from maintaining healthy friendships.
If you think you are the victim of emotional abuse, know that God cares deeply for you. He knows your pain and wants to help. Victims must find the peace that comes only from God when the abuser becomes angry and abusive. They should be aware they are highly treasured no matter how the abuser tries to manipulate them. Even when the storms blow, we can keep calm and recite the truth of God's Word about ourselves as the children of God.
I strongly recommend prayer, supportive friends, scheduling a talk with your pastor, and the help of a Christian counselor. They will be your best resource since they can gain a good understanding of your particular situation.