Psychological or Emotional Abuse
Psychological or Emotional Abuse
Psychological Abuse involves the regular and deliberate use of a range of words and non-physical actions used with the purpose to manipulate, hurt, weaken or frighten a person mentally and emotionally; and/or distort, confuse or influence a person’s thoughts and actions within their everyday lives, changing their sense of self and harming their wellbeing.
SafeLives
Everyone working within your Religious Life Group should ensure they are familiar with the Indicators and Signs of Psychological or Emotional Abuse…
Enforced social isolation – preventing someone accessing services, educational and social opportunities and seeing friends
Removing mobility or communication aids or intentionally leaving someone unattended when they need assistance
Preventing someone from meeting their religious and cultural needs
Preventing someone from meeting their religious and cultural needs
Preventing the expression of choice and opinion
Failure to respect privacy
Preventing stimulation, meaningful occupation or activities
Intimidation, coercion, harassment, use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing or verbal abuse
Addressing a person in a patronising or infantilising way
Threats of harm or abandonment
Cyber bullying
Poisonous relationships can alter our perception. You can spend many years thinking you’re worthless… but you’re not worthless; you’re unappreciated.
Steve Maraboli
An air of silence when a particular person is present
Withdrawal or change in the psychological state of the person
Insomnia
Low self-esteem
Uncooperative and aggressive behaviour
A change of appetite, weight loss/gain
Signs of distress: tearfulness, anger
Apparent false claims, by someone involved with the person, to attract unnecessary treatment
Support for those who have experienced or been affected by Psychological or Emotional Abuse