Wouldn’t it be great if the old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” actually rang true? Unfortunately when these words come from the mouth of someone you love, they can be devastating. Proverbs 15:4 says that a ‘deceitful tongue crushes the spirit’. Physical abuse is not the only behavior that can ‘break’ someone. Relational abuse can take on many different forms:
- Psychological
- Mental
- Emotional
- Verbal
- Spiritual
- Financial
- Physical
- Sexual
You may see some of these terms used interchangeably at times (e.g. psychological/mental) or separate. In addition, there is a spectrum and while the behaviors exhibited may not seem as ‘extreme’ in comparison to other examples, ANY abuse is abuse and creates a toxic relationship.
At StoneRoller, our primary emphasis is on psychological and emotional abuse. We’re also sensitive toward the needs of anyone struggling with an unhealthy relationship. We will describe these dynamics in upcoming articles and resources. Stay tuned!