Verbal abuse is just as damaging and just as painful as physical abuse.
I believe this with all of my heart because in my experience, it only began with the verbal abuse. The words would cut deap into my heart, and take much longer to heal than a broken bone or a bruise. The fear that was placed by intimidation and the unknown of what might happen next was mentally exhausting. And the anxiety began to take an effect on me physically. I lost huge patches of my hair about the size of a half dollar.