Abusive Relationships:
The Truth About "Civilized" Society

The objective of this article is to explain what abusive relationships are, and how to verify whether you or someone close to you is living in such a relationship.

Anyone, male or female, can be responsible for an abusive relationship. However, the fact is that throughout history women have had to endure many more such relationships as the victim. The "dominating" male sex has often considered women subservient. This perception largely remains, even today. But, fortunately, nowadays you can reach out for help and take steps to get rid of a relationship that is becoming or is abusive.

If you are at the receiving end of an abusive relationship, you can develop a serious condition termed "verbal abuse syndrome". Even though verbal abuse syndrome is not a mental defect, life-threatening illness, or a disorder that has to do with some viral microbe, this serious condition can nonetheless affect your mental and physical health.

Here are some characteristics that can help determine whether you are suffering from verbal abuse syndrome:

• Suffering from extreme low self-esteem because of your partner's relentless verbal abuse
• Foolishly complying with your partner's desires and his taking your happiness for granted
• Tempering down your own speech or actions to prevent any abuse now or in future
• Abuse so relentless that you begin to believe that you are what your partner says
• You partner's verbal abuse is accompanied by co-abusive behaviors like emotional neglect, humiliation or even violence
• You've developed a feeling of isolation

Your feelings of isolation are the result of you withdraw from everyone close to you such as your family, friends and relatives, to satisfy your partner:

• You try overcoming feelings of hurt by over indulgence in drugs, alcohol, shopping or food.
• You are perennially stressed; backaches, diarrhea, constipation, and gastro-intestinal problems afflict you without traceable cause.
• Things long cherished come to seem insignificant.
• You counsel your unruly partner by yourself without success.
• You ask others to be tolerant of your partner, and that evokes angry responses.
• You end up physically, mentally and emotionally wrecked, unable to even carry out your day-to-day activities.

There are numerous resources to help victims trapped in relationships of an abusive nature. They help the victims to get over this condition and repair the damage. Here are two of the best resources available for victims of abusive relationships:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Moreover, you can seek the help of therapists and professionals equipped to deal with this malaise known as abusive relationships. However, you yourself are your best resource to find your way out of abusive relationships. You should be honest with yourself, and disclose your sufferings in the abusive relationship without concealing anything to trusted individuals. You also need to be firm and take all necessary steps as suggested by your counselor.