Others are more subtle. Although verbal abuse does not leave black eyes or visible bruises, it is often more seriously damaging to your self-image. Certainly it scars your spirit the same way physical abuse scars your body. Verbal abuse is cruel. One in four women admits to being verbally abused.
Experts feel the figure is much higher because many women never discuss verbal abuse.
Indeed, some do not even recognize that they are being verbally abused. Often a verbal abuser is quite sensitive to outsiders finding out about the abuse and is very careful to save these scenes for the home environment only. Many verbal abusers are delightful, charming men in public. Children don't really count until they are grown or begin to tell others about this treatment. Indeed, the children are often abused, too.