How to Cope With a Verbally Abusive Husband
Verbal abuse can take many forms. It is much harder to identify than physical abuse but can still be very damaging. A husband who calls you names, swears, screams or yells, puts you down, blames you for his outbursts, manipulates your behavior, dismisses your feelings and threatens you, even if he claims to be joking, is verbally abusive. If you are depressed and always feel like you are walking on eggshells, you need to get help.
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Instructions
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Believe in yourself. Know that you are not crazy or overemotional. Your husband's verbal abuse is not your fault.
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Decide on your boundaries and explain them to your husband. Discuss what you will and will not tolerate during an argument. Do this when you are both feeling calm and can talk without getting overly emotional.
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Do not get sucked into the abuse. When your husband gets angry, remain calm and walk away. Do not try to reason with him or prove your point; do not give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
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Leave if the abuse turns physical. No relationship is worth your personal safety.
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Seek counseling. If your husband wants to work on the problem, you can seek counseling together. If not, attend on your own. Professional support can really help.
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Surround yourself with support. Talk to friends and family about what is going on and let them know how you are feeling.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not feel ashamed. You have done nothing wrong and you deserve help and support.
If you are afraid that your husband's abuse will turn physical, make sure to have a safe place you can go--a friend's house, a hotel, a shelter--to protect yourself.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit angry face image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Verbally abusing one's spouse is REAL and is happening. Will have to find a way out of how to stop it before it's too late. Self controlling one's anger is perhaps one of the best ways....
