Abusive Relationships Select the chip to return to the main navigation page. Abusive relationships are characterized by extreme jealousy, emotional withholding, lack of intimacy, raging, sexual coercion, infidelity, verbal abuse, threats, lies, broken promises, physical violence, power plays and control games. Abuse does not have to be physical. Emotional abuse is as damaging as physical abuse, though it is often harder to recognize, and therefore to recover from. Emotional abuse causes long term self esteem issues and profound emotional repercussions for the partners of abusers.
Abusive relationships are progressive - Abusive relationships get worse over time.
Emotional and verbal abuse frequently shifts to more overt threats or physical abuse, particularly in times of stress. Recommended reading for abusive relationships and recovery from them. A specific relationship is not the source of the abuse - Abusive patterns are part of the emotional make up of both the parties involved. Without help and outside intervention the abusive patterns will be repeated in all relationships. The emotional volatility of addicts and alcoholics also creates an abusive relationship climate.