If someone is continually subjecting you to verbal bullying and intimidation, this is abusive behavior.
Abuse, unfortunately, comes in many guises. There is physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse as well as verbal abuse, which although not physically damaging is emotionally devastating. Verbal abuse occurs when your partner, friend, parent, co-worker or boss repeatedly says things to you that are hurtful.
Beating Down the Other Person
Verbal terrorists use words to keep someone in check, under control and, often, in a situation that they fear they cannot escape. When you are subjected to on-going verbal abuse, you are consistently barraged with hurtful comments that tear down your self-esteem and confidence and may cause you to fear for your life and sanity.
Fear of Expressing Yourself
Signs that you are being verbally abused and quashed include an inability to express your thoughts, feelings and opinions freely because you know the abuser will ridicule you and possibly screamed at you.
Walking on Eggshells
If you feel as though you are walking on eggshells all the time, this is another indication that you are being verbally abused or involved in some other kind of abuse.
Do You Make Excuses for Him?
Do you make excuses for your partner's behavior when he is acting out and verbally abusing you in front of others? This is another indicator that your relationship has become toxic and abusive.
Manipulative Behavior
Does your partner use words to manipulate you? Is it impossible to have a normal conversation with him? Is it impossible to "win" an argument with him? Twisting your words and managing to turn things around to use them against you is a ploy of the verbal abuser. Does he indicate through his choice of words that you are stupid and interrupt you when you are trying to talk? Does he roll his eyes when you talk or walk away when responding to a question? These are all signs of abuse.
Lying
When a person frequently denies or flat out lies about things that he has said previously, insisting that you are the one who is wrong and misunderstood what was said, this is another indicator of verbal abuse.
Criticism, Name Calling, Put Downs, Sarcasm
Criticizing someone incessantly, yelling at them, calling them names and opting to humiliate a person in public are all part of the verbal abuser's repertoire.
If you are routinely subjected to name calling, put downs, sarcasm, yelling, cursing and threats, this is verbal abuse, according to Dr. Reena Sommer.
