Being in an emotionally abusive relationship can be hurtful. It affects the person’s self-esteem and self-confidence and can extremely negative effects on one’s mental health and wellbeing. Emotional abuse may sometimes be difficult to recognize because it involves no physical violence, but it can just as bad and damaging.

Dealing with emotional abuse is not an easy task as it requires you to face some of your fears and to change the way you think and see the situation you are. The following are some advice on how you can cope with emotional abuse.

Get Rid of Guilt

The first step in dealing with emotional abuse is to realize and believe that the abuse is not your fault. Feeling guilty about the emotional abuse you are handed can worsen your situation and make it harder for you to cope with it. You being abused is not your fault, and your partner needs to take responsibility for it.

Know Your Priorities

When you are in an emotionally abusive relationship, you need to focus on maintaining your own mental and physical health to counter the effects of what you are living through. Do not neglect your needs and desires, and try to do things that help you stay positive.

Set Boundaries

Tell the abuser that you will no longer accept the way they treat you and set boundaries for their behavior. For instance, tell your partner that if they start yelling during a conversation, the conversation is over. Once you set boundaries, be consistent and always stick to them.

Do Not Respond

If an abusive person tries to push your buttons to get you into an argument, do not respond to them and try to ignore it and not be drawn into the situation they want to create. Additionally, if the abusive person starts accusing you of things you did not do or meant, do not respond by apologizing or trying to explain yourself and simply tell them they are wrong and walk out.

Maintain Relations with Others

Being around people who are caring and loving can really help you improve your mental being. Maintain good relationships with other people in your life to form a good and healthy support network.

Quit

If you believe that you are losing to the relationship more than you are gaining, and if you think that you cannot take the abuse anymore, take action to end the relationship and cut all ties if this is an option for you.