Well, I have been abused. By ex-boyfriends, co-workers, and people whom I thought were my friends. I have scars. Emotional scars. They are not healed yet. I'm working on them!!!!!

Suffered the fallout of constant arguing between my parents and my older brother - or between my parents regarding my older brother. This left emotional scars that created a fear of conflict. That fear extended into my marriage. I suppressed my concerns and wants for fear of creating conflict. As a result, I allowed my ex to emotionally abuse me in my 14 year marriage. The abuse was not constant but it was consistent and came in many forms.

I was abused emotionally as a child. Physically as a wife the first time and them played the role of an abuser (verbally) the second marriage.

I was abused using every category in that book The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans (it helps me feel sane to read it and make sense of it). It's like I started to internalize it and treat myself in the same way with the thinking, starting to discount my own needs and feelings and blame myself for his anger. I made a list its' painful..
He says I act crazy.
He orders me and makes demands.
He withholds communication, affection, love, info and the truth.
He squeezed my hand till it hurts (the only physical abuse).
He lies and denies/justifies it.
he uses anger to control/manipulate. He Blocks and Diverts my attempts to communicate.
He makes hurtful jokes then blames me for not liking it.
He makes false accusations.
He discounts my feelings &needs.
He gives me the silent treatment.
He yells at me.
He blames me.
All this when he can and does treat me well, lovingly, with care and supportively at times.

were or are?

I've been emotionally abused by my STBX for the last 10 years... and he continues to abuse by threatening to take my home and ruin me financially if I go thru with the divorce.

I was verbally abused in a relationship. The person that I loved the most told me that I was fat. One minute he was fine, the next he was pissed off. He kept telling me that I was not good enough. Even a year after I quit talking to him all the time, we still talk every now and then. I have gained 65 pounds since I met him 3 years ago. I just need to be loved...

I was abuse as a young child growing up till i was ten years old bu my mother I took care of my brothers my mother never really cared I was negleted most of the time and lonly to much respeonsalbity!

manipulation in every way possible, allowing it to go on well beyond reason ....

my parents did all in their power to let me know they didnt love me or want me, and did all they could also to make me feel like I was worthless, whether it was making up ways to insult me or punish me for things I didnt do, or throwing me to the ground or strangling me.

I was abused by my mother people who I thought were my friends and by myself. People used to tell me I wasnt good enough, I was stupid, they used to make fun of my appearance etc. I bought into it and now I abuse myself. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and make something of myself. I am so hard on myself and beat myself up over small things. I live with a lot of needless pain.

Im almost 16 right now, and since i was 8, my moms boyfriend verbally abused me everyday.... it got to a certain point that i didnt even leave my room, and when i did i didnt say anything, because if i did, he would end up gettin in my face about it. When i was 13 i chose to stand up to him and he grabbed me by my arm and threw me at his bedroom door and than into my room....we fought until my mom got home and i had to go to the hospital...he broke bones in my wrist and hand. Its changed alot in me... and i still cant handle people raising their voice, or getting really physical... i kinda blow up.... but idk.

I was emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by my moms long time, live-in boyfriend. When she would come home and I had a bloody mouth she would ask what I did to deserve it. My moms boyfriend said that I am the type of girl that will end up barefoot and pregnant at 14. He told me this when I was 11. Since then I have been physically and sexually abused by my daughters father, emotionally abused by my ex-husband, and now I am in another abusive relationship I think. I think that my husband uses his love for me as a way to control everythign from the top of my head to my feat literally. He doesnt want me to cut my hair becuase he said that I wouldnt look right, I cant wear certain clothes adn shoes and he comments on my makeup all the time. He controls my every move.

ive never been physically abused.
my older brother of 4 years gets in my face and scares the hell out of me. my brother and father hate eachother so they scream all the time and my mother and i are both depressed because of it.

Had good childhood, but married an autocratic authoritarian bully who was a fanatical christian. I am sure, now, all these years later that he has Aspergers Syndrome and his awkwardness in relationship is due to his lack of coping. BUT he was very bullying, frightening, domineering and verbally abusive. Created huge rows when I went out - even for 2-3 hours. HAD to go to church every week, ill or not ill. Was easier than put up with the shouting. Was not allowed even to put a geranium in the ground on a Sunday, or wash nappies for daugher when she had a tummy upset. Kept me very short of money, yet could find 10% of his income to send to church (300 per month!) I had leggins with holes in the knees and he refused the price of a pair of cheap jeans to replace them. Gave me a "bonus" of 10 per month when I asked for it - for nappies. Otherwise me, and three kids tried to live on 25 a week. I worked from home to supplement this (piano lessons and childminding - while he was at work) but got into bad trouble for doing that too. Left him.

After this, had now-ex-b/f who was narcissitic - very scary. Lovely and generous one minute then flipped the switch into aggressive bully-totally of rocker mode. Would beat the door to get in, txt abuse all night, accuse me of affairs, search my house for "a man" (who did not exist) accuse me of texting or phoning "a man" when I did no such thing, undermined my personality and emotions totally, and criticised my appearance. Would not have a physical relationship - all manner of reasons including the fact I have had children.

Last straw was exploding at me in a wayside parking area on dark bit of road at midnight when supposedly giving me a lift home, and not letting me out of car, and it was 45 mins from home in car anyway. Knew I was not safe. Left him, but the verbal abuse and txts continued.

Eventually started going out with another bloke, and he STILL was txting me - accusing me of never telling him I did not love him.....

Glory help us....he's gone now.

Anyway - all over and done with now, but it has left me nervous, and very very insecure, and it is hard for me to understand how I might be lovable.