In abusive relationships, there is a power imbalance in which the abuser has all the authority and the victim thinks they have none. However, victims do have the ability to halt the emotional abuse in this case, albeit it can be tough. When an abuser begins to rely on more serious forms of emotional abuse to control their partner, such as name-calling, humiliation, or intimidation, then they are taking the relationship way beyond what most people would consider appropriate. However, when an abuser does not allow their partner to talk about their feelings or ask for help, then they are denying them their right to self-determination. Emotional abuse can be difficult to recognize because it tends to be hidden under more obvious forms of violence, such as physical abuse or verbal abuse. Emotional abusers may criticize and deny their partners' feelings in order to keep them down and make them feel like they are less than them. If you are in an emotionally abusive relationship, then it's important to remember that you have equal rights with your partner, even if they don't think so. Try not to take anything their parents said about love interests being used and thrown away seriously, but instead focus on how much you care about your partner and want the best for them. If your partner is willing to work on their issues with emotional abuse, then they are worth fighting for.