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Honest faces can often hide liars who engage in emotional abuse

by | Dec 1, 2016 | Domestic Violence, Firm News |

There are times when it is normal to question whether one is being reasonable. When one’s teenage child proclaims that “everyone else does, why can’t I?”then it can make one reconsider whether one is being too harsh or whether the teenager is merely acting out. Many California residents will be familiar with such scenarios; however, there are times when it can be difficult, if not impossible, to recognize what may be more subtle signs of emotional abuse.

A narcissist can be difficult to spot. He or she may be charming, solicitous and considerate toward the other spouse, both in public and in private. Nothing is too much trouble, and before too long one finds that he or she has become almost entirely dependent on the abuser, never realizing that this is, in fact, part of the abuse. It may be at this point when the abuser begins to step up the controlling behavior. There is a difference, for example, between concern for one’s well-being and wanting to keep tabs on one’s every single movement.

An abusive spouse will use every means at his or her disposal to play the most cruel mind games. Narcissists will manipulate their spouses to the point where the victim can no longer see the truth of a situation, where they now believe that they themselves are responsible for an abuser’s bad behavior, and that every torture they endure is entirely of their own making. It can be the most difficult thing in the world to come to the realization that one has fallen prey to domestic abuse, when a hand is never raised in anger and one’s abuser simply seems so disappointed and unhappy because he or she claims that the victim hasn’t made the same efforts and sacrifices that the abuser claims to have done.

It is important for such victims to seek not only the appropriate legal advice but also the emotional support needed to assist in breaking the cycle of abuse. Happiness and liberty are the inalienable rights of every citizen. Emotional abuse and other controlling behavior is not acceptable, and no California resident should feel that he or she deserves to be on the receiving end of such torture.

Source: beliefnet.com, “Why You Can Never Truly Divorce a Narcissist — The 5 Primary Objectives of a Narcissist“, Colleen Sheehy Orme, Accessed on Nov. 30, 2016

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