The signs of a physically abusive relationship, such as black eyes and bruises, are often hard to miss. Mental abuse within a relationship may be more difficult to discern with a cursory glance, but it can be just as damaging, and it should not be discounted simply because physical signs are not as apparent. Recognizing the signs of a mentally abusive relationship can help you to spot trouble before it spirals out of control.
Abusive Tactics
A mentally abusive person applies aggressive tactics to gain control and dominance in a relationship. These include making all the decisions and expecting one's orders to be followed. Using insults, humiliation and name calling to make a person feel inadequate and ashamed is a mentally abusive strategy. Keeping a partner isolated and forcing her to ask permission to see other people is another tactic. An abusive person may make threats toward the other person in the relationship, to family members or to pets. Frequent or harassing phone calls from a partner could be another sign of a mentally abusive relationship.
Economic Abuse
Economic or financial abuse is a means of gaining control in a relationship and can be a form of mental abuse. Financial abuse occurs when one partner in a relationship tightly controls the finances and restricts the other person's spending to an allowance. Demanding an accounting of money that has been spent or preventing a partner from gaining employment or choosing a career are other ways of maintaining control. A mental abusive individual may withhold money, credit cards or basic necessities such as food and clothing to achieve dominance in a relationship.
Reactions to Mental Abuse
A person may be in a mentally abusive relationship if she appears isolated from the rest of society, friends and family. Mental abuse may cause a person to become fearful or overly anxious to please the partner. An individual who must always let the partner know where he is or who he is with may be caught in a controlling and abusive relationship.
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