by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Dec 24, 2015 | Verbal and Emotional Abuse
Here is the story of Laurie and Nate. [NOTE: I’m sure you realize that I do not use real people’s stories here. I know you’ve seen on TV and online all sorts of horrible “true life” stories, some even by therapists. This is unethical....
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Jun 1, 2012 | Verbal and Emotional Abuse
In the previous post, Small Lies Are Emotional Abuse, I described the devastation to the psyche when someone twists around who you think you are. It is emotional abuse; it is mental abuse, and the fact that the process is subtle makes it more, not less, devastating....
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | May 14, 2012 | Verbal and Emotional Abuse
There’s a subtle type of emotional abuse that it could take you years to uncover: Taking the truth and twisting it around. It’s not a bold-faced lie. It’s a little lie, a subtle and surprising twist — and that’s why it shakes the ground under...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Sep 29, 2006 | Verbal and Emotional Abuse
What’s your reaction when someone tells you, “You hurt my feelings”? There could be two possible reactions: You’re going to be either me-focused or other-focused. That is, if you’re me-focused, you’re going to feel irritated, offended, angry, insulted or—this...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Apr 1, 2001 | Verbal and Emotional Abuse
REPRINTED FROM NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE, pp. 30-31 Abuse doesn’t have to be obvious. It isn’t that simple. There are some kinds of abuse that call for a really careful look to detect. But they hurt nevertheless. Example: Never praising. People Cannot...
