Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

  • Home
  • Relationships
  • Mental Health
  • Expert Tips
  • Life
  • Family
  • Marriage

6 Damaging After Effects of Emotional Abuse

April 21, 2023 · Mental Health
Emotional Abuse
Photo by mrmohock at Shutterstock

Depression, Anxiety, And Self Harming Thoughts

The short-term effects of frequent lectures, criticism, or self-pitying monologues can dampen anyone’s spirits. But the impact of long-term emotional abuse goes way deeper than feeling brief sadness.

If your self-esteem reflects the talk you hear daily, it doubles the effects of abuse, ultimately making you sick: emotionally AND physically. The heaping pile of abusive speech and actions, leading to toxic self-esteem, isn’t something you just snap out of.

Even if the abuser is no longer around, if you’re still mentally replaying the same scenes you were experiencing while the abuser was with you, your exercise will pick up where the abuser left off.

It takes mindful awareness of those abusive scripts to replace them with self-esteem that builds you up and allows you to heal.

Without that understanding, you’re sensitive not only to anxiety and depression but also to self-harm to punish or distract yourself from the emotional pain.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • A mixed media collage of a silhouette filled with torn paper and translucent layers, symbolizing the invisible nature of emotional neglect. 10 Traits of People Emotionally Neglected as Kids
  • A mixed-media collage showing a rigid, golden silhouette with cracks revealing a soft, watercolor interior, representing performative armor. 7 Behaviors People Mistake For Confidence But Aren’t
  • A woman sits alone at a kitchen table in dim evening light while her partner stands in the background, illustrating emotional distance. 9 Psychological Reasons Why People Stay in Unhappy Relationships
  • An illustration of a person using a prism to turn a chaotic blue wave into a clear spectrum of distinct colors. 10 Signs You Have Exceptionally High Emotional Intelligence
  • A mixed-media collage of an older person's profile filled with childhood drawings and school reports, representing deep-seated habits. 8 Childhood Habits That Still Secretly Shape Your Personality After 60
  • An abstract mixed-media piece showing bright yellow and orange splashes like a laugh, covering a dark, dense gray background. 7 Signs Someone Uses Humor To Avoid Serious Conversations
  • Two friends sitting at a kitchen table, unconsciously mirroring each other's posture by resting their chins on their hands. 7 Signs Someone Mirrors Your Personality Without Realizing It
  • A woman laughs at her phone while her friend sits beside her on a sofa with a forced, thin smile and envious eyes. 7 Friendship Behaviors That Reveal Hidden Jealousy
  • A mixed media collage showing a glowing smartphone screen inside a mirror frame, casting a shadow of a staged performance on a curtain. 7 Signs Someone Is Performing Kindness For Attention
  • A mixed media collage of a person in a theatrical spotlight while their partner sits in the shadows of a theater audience. 7 Signs Someone Loves Attention More Than They Love You

Newsletter

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

anxiety, relationship, stress

These Are the 6 Types of Anxiety Disorders

#6 Substance or Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder The medical term for anxiety or panic attacks brought…

Read More →
A senior woman in a sunlit room excitedly examines a green leaf through a magnifying glass, surrounded by plants and gardening tools.

Why Seniors Who Stay Curious Live Longer—And How to Cultivate It

Discover the psychological and neurological reasons why staying curious helps older adults live longer, along…

Read More →
Dementia myth

Subtle Signs of Dementia: 6 Important Things You Need to Know

6. Losing Track Of Time Or Place Do you, or a person you care about,…

Read More →
mental health depression

8 Mental Health Myths Every Senior Should Read

The general public’s mental health difficulties are now widely accepted by society, which represents huge…

Read More →
affect

7 Negative Ways in Which Stress Affects the Body

Reproductive system You may have no thought that stress will end up affecting your reproductive…

Read More →
war

Most Devastating Psychological Consequences of War

The pain, suffering, and displacement that often come with such a traumatic event is an…

Read More →
anxiety

7 Effective Ways to Reduce Anxiety

#7 Set Limits and Learn to Say “No” Some stressors are out of your control,…

Read More →
midlife crisis

7 Alarming Signs You’re Going Through a Midlife Crisis

What is a midlife crisis, and how can you manage it?  You get to “that…

Read More →
A single coffee mug on a wooden table next to an empty chair in a sunlit kitchen, representing the quiet of loss.

How to Cope with Grief After Losing a Spouse in Retirement

Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to cope with the loss of a spouse in retirement, protect…

Read More →

Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@psychologydiary.com

Explore

  • About Us
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Editorial Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Expert Tips
  • Family
  • Life
  • Marriage
  • Mental Health

© 2026 Psychology Diary. All rights reserved.