Emotional abuse requires no physical conduct whatsoever. Too often this becomes still another wish that didn't come true and emotionally abused children will conclude that they deserve no better result. The costs of emotional abuse cannot be measured by visible scars, but each victim loses some percentage of capacity. And although the damage was done with words, true forgiveness can only be earned with deeds. For such searchers, the key to freedom is always truth the real truth, not the distorted, self-serving version served by the abuser.
Emotional abuse threatens to become a national illness.
And the tide shows no immediate signs of turning. Effective treatment of emotional abusers depends on the motivation for the original conduct, insight into the roots of such conduct and the genuine desire to alter that conduct. For some abusers, seeing what they are doing to their child or, better yet, feeling what they forced their child to feel is enough to make them halt. Other abusers need help with strategies to deal with their own stress so that it doesn't overload onto their children. But for some emotional abusers, rehabilitation is not possible.