“We can all help prevent suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call 1-800-273-8255.”
Emotional abuse chips away at a person’s self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. Constant threats, rejection, and name-calling are dehumanizing and make the victim feel lonely, isolated, and unworthy. Silent treatments are extremely uncomfortable for an emotionally abused person. He or she feels they are walking on eggshells in fear of some type of confrontation or argument.
In childhood, the victim might be overly shy to avoid conflict or be indecisive when it comes to making decisions later in adulthood. To counteract fear, shame, anger, and other disturbing emotions, the victim might turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the unpleasant feelings. The victim can feel calmness and peace, but it is only temporary.
Emotional abuse and trauma is often the root of addiction and substance use disorders. Bullying is emotional abuse. January 15-20th is No Name-Calling week, bringing attention and awareness to the bullying and name-calling problem among young adolescents. No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities dedicated to ending name-calling and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an ongoing dialogue about ways to end bullying.
Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW wrote an article on childhood emotional abuse and addiction for Medscape (2017) which states, “Emotional abuse during childhood may lead to opioid addiction and substance-related problems (SRP) in adults who suffer from impulsivity and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new research shows.” When a person feels hurt and powerless on an emotional level, they are at high risk to use.
According to Matthew Price, assistant professor in Department of Psychological Science at the University of Vermont, and the paper’s senior author, “With emotional abuse, the abuser is saying ‘You are the problem.’ Being called names, being told you’re not good enough, being told no one cares about you undermines your ability to cope with difficult emotions.” (2017).
Emotional abuse may have been unavoidable in childhood, but as an adult, you can decide what types of relationships to keep in your life and choose your connections. Mental illness, substance use disorders, and addiction are treatable. If you or a loved one suffers from a substance use disorder and mental health condition, get help today.
Cypress Lake Recovery specializes in addiction treatment and is located in a serene, remote, lush-green, oxygen enriched environment. The program encompasses holistic addiction therapy and offers yoga and meditation for the mind, body, and soul. The focus is on physical, mental, and emotional well-being by generating the balance of life-enriching treatment, wellness, and healthy, sober, sustainable relationships. Call us to get started: 409-331-2204
