Effects of Mental Abuse

Mental abuse can be very damaging to the victim's mental health and quality of relationships. Mental abuse has a negative impact on the individual suffering the abuse and can cause some serious problems. It is beneficial for a victim of an abusive person to seek help immediately and stay away from the person perpetrating the abuse.

Poor Self-Esteem

• Suffering from emotional, verbal or other forms of mental abuse may result in a negative self image. Insults, criticism and put downs are common forms of mental abuse. At times, victims internalize the negativity, which effects self-esteem.

Anxiety

• Anxiety may result from mental abuse. This particularly occurs when a victim is in an abusive relationship or lives with the person who is treating him or her poorly. Anxiety is fueled by the victim's attempt to modify behavior to meet the needs of the abuser.

Depression

• Involvement in a mentally abusive relationship can lead to chronic loneliness, sadness or depression. This is often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Severely abused people may suffer from a condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD occurs when chronic abuse causes extreme anxiety, hypersensitivity to stimuli, heightened responses to events and flashbacks or nightmares related to the abuse.

Patterns of Abuse

• Victims of abuse often repeat the patterns they have experienced in other relationships. If a victim is mentally abused, it is more likely that he or she will mentally abuse others in future relationships. This can be prevented by becoming aware of the abuse and seeking professional help.