Emotional maltreatment or ill-treatment is another type of domestic ill-treatment which is sometimes so complicated to discover. Employing financial and economic dependency as a means of restraining a victim is one of various ways which can be used by an abusive individual. Most victims will not speak out if they are threatened with the possibility of being humiliated or embarrassed in public, or isolated from friends and relatives. It is usual to find situations where a victim is blackmailed and suppressed due to concern of exposure of an embarrassing issue or concern of losing financial assistance.

The signs are not so obvious when someone is emotionally abused. Emotionally victimized persons may be financially and economically at the mercy of the maltreated. Another method used is shame, isolation from the community and public embarrassment. It is not uncommon to find states of affairs where a victim is blackmailed and suppressed due to fear of exposure of an embarrassing situation or fear of losing financial assistance.

These are just a few of the signs that can help you determine if you are at risk of being abused, or already being abused. If these sound like your partner and if you are questioning whether you are being abused, or already determine that you are: Contact your local crisis line, help line, abuse counselor anything but please, please reach out and help yourself. You need to protect yourself and you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Most likely it will be to the one holding the purse strings. Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not suggesting that your counsel will pick up the phone and call your partner because he controls the finances in your marriage. That would be very unethical. So how now will your counsel arrange to satisfy his/her needs in order to remain as your representative in your case? He/she will need to turn to those who can access the key that opens the marital funds. Now to get this level of cooperation there must be some give and take along the way.

Contrary to the way it's often portrayed in the media, abuse is not limited to women. Anyone can be abused. And it doesn't have to be physical abuse. Abuse can come in the form of emotional or physical damage. Even if you've experienced something that seems tame compared to what you've seen in movies or on television, you could still be suffering from abuse.

In summary, emotional abuse is also referred to as verbal or psychological abuse. Although there is no physical harm, there is serious emotional turmoil that takes place within these victims. Being abused in this manner will change a person and alter their personality. Nobody has the right to take away yourself respect and dignity and change you. We are all born with character traits that make us special and should keep these for the term of our life. Please, do not let someone take away the traits that make you special. Seek help and education if you are a victim of emotional abuse before it is too late!