EMOTIONAL ABUSE: JUST WRONG!!

Dear MAx,
The other day my 14-year-old son came to me and said, “I hate that you let dad abuse you.” I was shocked hearing the word “abuse” coming from my son in regards to his father. My husband has never hit either my son or me. My son said that he was talking about how his father screamed, shouted, harassed, and humiliated people, particularly us, to get his way. My husband is a good provider, loves us, and, yes, does get emotional at times saying things that I am sure he regrets later. I believe this behavior is just a carry over from his own childhood. How can I convince my son I am not abused?

Paula

Dear Paula,
What if your son is right? What if you are being abused? EMOTIONALLY ABUSED, that is. Many people think that if there are no marks or bruises from physical lashing out, then there is no abuse. WRONG!

What we know about physical abuse connected with domestic violence is: that a woman is battered in the U.S. approximately every nine seconds; domestic violence cases contribute to more injured women then muggings and car accidents combined; even though domestic violence is the most under reported crime, it occurs in 60% of marriages.

Emotional abuse, on the other hand, is difficult to track. Emotional abuse is very under reported because of the myth that if there are not bruises and/or marks, there is no abuse. Experts have yet come to a clear definition of what constitutes emotional abuse. What experts do agree on is that, like physical and sexual abuse, emotional abuse is based on power and control. Forms of emotional abuse manifest through rejection, isolating, overly jealous and possessive, terrorizing, degrading, emotional deprivation, corrupting and/or exploiting.

Consider these factors as possible indicators of emotional abuse:
-depression -trust issues -health issues with no basis
-withdrawal -stealing -feelings of shame and guild
-low self-esteem -spontaneous crying -overly passive
-sleep problems -substance abuse -avoid eye contact
-suicidal thoughts -aggression -self-depreciation

If you are ready to consider that you are being emotionally abused, know that no one ever deserves to be abused in any manner. It is not your fault that this is happening to you and your children; you are not causing the abuse. You are not alone; others are starting to openly talk about this serious issue. Help is available.

Paula, you mentioned that your husband’s “behavior is just a carry over from his own childhood.” These are issues that he needs to address in individual counseling. But, more importantly, your 14-year-old son is being influenced to repeat the same behavior. Sadly, 90% of battered women reported that their children were present during the domestic violence; so, not surprisingly, 25%-30% of adolescent relationships are also abusive relationships, then grow up to abuse their spouses and children. As an adolescent, your son is learning to be a couple by watching how you and your husband interact. Just as your husband learned from his parents, your son is learning his parents. The fact that your son brought your “abuse” to light is his way of reaching out for things to change in the family. What a great kid you have!

Changing the family doesn’t necessarily mean breaking the family up. There are so many good therapists available to help with individual—adult and adolescent--and family therapy. Therapists work with their clients to identify what the problems are, identify factors that contribute to those problems, then work on giving clients tools, strategies, to be able to reach a positive outcome.
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Dear readers, if you suspect, or know, someone is being emotionally and/or physically abused take time to listen, to validate what is happening, offer support: “What can I do to help?” Know services available to support the person, such as child welfare or family services contact information; transition house or shelters; health professionals including therapists. And, remember, it is a moral obligation for every person to report suspected or know child abuse or neglect to a child welfare agency or to the police.
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