Emotional Abuse: The Invisible Train Wreck

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So many survivors only recognize emotional abuse in hindsight. Mary Elizabeth Robinson is one of them.

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For most of my marriage, I never felt my relationship with my husband of 22 years was abusive. One would certainly think it would be so easily detected, so easily felt. I would have never believed it could have been part of my life. The abuse had crept in effortlessly, and I subconsciously learned to survive through the horrific dysfunction. I despised it, yet I couldn’t give it up.

Unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse creates invisible wounds, making recovery more difficult, as the scars can be more self-destructive. There are no marks to see, and friends and family are frequently unaware of your pain.

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In the beginning, I thought my relationship struggles were the typical marital woes everyone faced as newlyweds. I felt determined to work through the battles I constantly faced. I thought it was that part of my marital journey where I would suffer through and learn to accept my significant other’s faults. I was proud of my ability to survive. The scars on my heart began to thicken and block my ability to love this man. The mistreatment felt so wrong, but my learned ability to forgive trumped all my instinctive feelings.

The turmoil was relentless. The few people I shared this with were oblivious to any abuse. Their empathy quickly turned to excuses for my husband’s irrational behavior. They’d never witnessed any of it, so I am wondering if they ever really believed me or maybe thought I exaggerated the truth. The ups and downs became a regular gig in the days and months of my marriage. It never stopped or slowed down. It was and is a toxic cycle in any abusive relationship. We would have great normal days, but then someone or something would trigger a reaction, and there would be arguing, threats and intimidation, then denial, blaming and saying I caused him to act that way. There was never an apology, but there was always guaranteed silent treatment that followed and lasted for days. The communication would just stop. I became invisible, as well as my feelings.

The times I wanted to leave were immeasurable. He was an expert at convincing me I would never make it on my own, and the kids would hate me forever. Self-doubt was inevitable. The abuse became such a profound part of my life, yet I stayed. The level of toxicity increased through the years. I became very depressed during our last years together as a couple. At one low point, I developed shingles. I felt trapped and unable to see how diminished my self respect had become. I lost my ability to be combative in arguments, because I’d rather keep the peace than trigger and emotional outburst. 

The joy and happiness in my life was trapped underneath the misery. I worried more about my kid’s and my husband’s lives than my own well being. It was pathetic, but it became my normal. Truthfully, I did not even know what emotional and financial abuse was or that it was considered domestic violence until I finally broke down and secretly went to a local women’s abuse center for counseling. Knowledge became power for me. I began to research and read up on the issues. They all resonated. I learned the best way to handle an abuser and how to leave an unhealthy marriage.

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My husband’s goal was to gain control and power over me through all the belittling, financial control and manipulation. His behavior had become unpredictable and troublesome. The more I pulled away from his grip on me, the tighter he held on. I had to carefully plan my escape. The last few months we were together, I had to act like I would try to work on our relationship. I pretended to care, when deep down I hated him and myself for allowing this man to tear apart my soul. 

I began regular therapy, which gave me instant perspective. Every time I left the sessions, I felt more powerful. Just having an outsider view my marriage, who acknowledged my disheveled marital unraveling, allowed my doubts and fears to slowly dissipate. When I was inside the confines of my husband’s delusional world, I couldn’t think straight or function as the strong woman I once was. His constant barrage of hurtful words kept me fenced in on the emotional merry-go-round. My therapist explained once that this vicious and toxic cycle was what we needed in each other as partners. He needed to be in control of my life, and I became accustomed to forgiving his bad behavior.

It took me an excruciating year of facing my fears to realize I had to leave or I would never make it. I was afraid I would become seriously ill from internalizing the abuse for all these years. The strong fist of domestic violence would end up costing me my life, my soul, and my being! It wasn’t up to me to help him see his evil ways or to try to make him better. That was his karma. He had to help himself, and I knew I had to jump off the merry-go-round—no matter how difficult it would be.

I blindsided him and left while he was away one day. With the support of family, therapist, attorney and friends I am starting a new life. It was the scariest decision I had ever made, but I now consider it to be an exciting new beginning for me. A new chapter has begun. I now write my own future, and that is the true power of self. 

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Emotional and financial abuse are real and as destructive to a human being as physical battering. Here are some sane and loving directions for anyone who may be on the same crazy ride I once was.

• Get an attorney. If you can’t afford one, there are pro-bono attorneys available.

• If you love your home, and find it too difficult to leave; if the abuser refuses to exit and makes more money that you, you have to have to walk out the door. Make a plan, find a place if even temporary. It’s just a material item. Your being’s sanity is far more important than any replaceable structure.

• Do research information about emotional abuse. Call Women’s Centers in your area for free counseling and support. Knowledge is power. They can even help you with housing, finding free attorneys and filing a PFA if your situation warrants that.

• Do not engage in any conversations with the abuser, especially after you leave. It’s their tool for getting you back on that detrimental ride of abuse. I blocked my abuser immediately from my cell phone and emails. My boundaries were not strong enough to guard off the hurtful words I wanted to leave behind. It has to be an abrupt cut off of all communication. If you have kids, the abuser can communicate through attorneys.

• Learn how to love your self. Involve yourself in a great support group or with others who have gone through similar situations. Most importantly, don’t look back; you are not going that way. Get therapy and work on YOU.

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