Emotional Abuse is referred to as "ghosting."

Start writing..."Good night, Skye," he murmured, and that was the last time I heard from him... three weeks ago.

After a little dispute, my serious boyfriend, who had just swore to me the night before that he still desired our relationship despite the fact that he had moved to another state (we were planned for me to go there), abruptly stopped communicating to me...

There was no prior notice. There's no cause for it.

Simply poof! Gone.

The man who had previously been my boyfriend, lover, and closest friend - the guy who had talked to me about our future together and how much he wanted us to be together for the long haul - was gone in an instant. The man I believed to be my soul match.

Without informing me, you just up and left our relationship.

Suddenly, I am no longer a part of his universe...

No matter how many times I messaged or contacted him, imploring him to tell me what happened or what's going on, he won't. That's nearly as bad as someone dying...at least you know why they died.

You're aware of what occurred.

But when someone with whom you were just revealing sensitive parts of your life (not to mention your body) and who you were planning a long-term future with (yes, I was eager to go there) abruptly cuts you off... It's a mental screw of epic proportions.

It's inhumane. Also, it's just plain EVIL.

And by far one of the most self-centered, insulting, and cowardly behaviours imaginable.

Let's Call It What It Is: Ghosting What it entails

Ghosting ought to be called what it is: emotional abuse, or at the absolute least, a form of disrespect. The phrase "ghosting" conjures up images of a casual, emotional drive-by that may or may not involve a ghost. When, in fact, it's a sort of abuse that's been marginalised by the language we use to describe it.

Ghosting needs to be called what it is: emotional abuse.

Ghosting is leaving a trail of broken-hearted and broken-spirited people in its wake, who are increasingly becoming recycled trash rather than the lovely human beings they are.

People who have had the misfortune of being handled in this manner have suffered severe emotional and mental scars, as well as spiritual destruction. They're left with a gaping hole in their hearts and a mind distorted by the whiplash of losing someone close to them without reason or closure.

It's terrible enough if you've just begun dating someone and they mysteriously vanish, most likely into the arms of some other unfortunate person, but when it's your significant other, it's an even harder blow to the head.

Treating people as though they were objects is not acceptable.

If the person you're with is aware that you're in a situationship with no expectations, it's much easier to understand that you're both sharing something with no set commitments or duties. But, to be honest, even my on-again, off-again ex-boyfriend, aka my fwb, has shown enough respect to tell me if he's not feeling it. He may have ghosted me once or twice, but he typically let me know when he needed to take a "break," and I've reciprocated.

Basic human decency and respect are what it's all about.

The issue arises when two individuals have established an exclusive, committed relationship based on mutual trust and closeness. Then, without explanation, one of them turns ghost on the other and treats them as if they never existed. My latest ex-boyfriend, Mr. Vegas, is a fantastic example of this. He suddenly up and ghosted me out of nowhere.

That's a serious issue. This is a significant issue.

We've devolved into an egotistical, self-serving society.

I recognise that we now live in a world where swiping left and right like we're ordering people from a vending machine has become the norm, but perhaps that's the issue. We've grown accustomed to seeing individuals as disposable things that exist just to fulfil our desires.

We've devolved into an egotistical, self-serving culture.

And it's nipping at our heels.

Ghosting has become a common method of "breaking up" with people of all ages, not only Millenials. Mr. Vegas, my most recent ex, turned 49 this year and is quite a little older than me. My Fwb, on the other hand, was just 29 years old...

So, no, it's not a matter of age.

On a fundamental level, it's about a complete lack of regard for another human being. Our fast gratification, order now mindset has resulted in ghosting. Our society's emotional IQ appears to be much below the poverty level. And now we're dealing with the ramifications.

Our society's emotional IQ appears to be much below the poverty level.

To summarise

The fact that ghosting has become a socially acceptable activity does not make it acceptable or justified. Those who ghost should be held responsible for their activities (or rather, lack of). We need to start holding "ghosters" responsible for their actions and calling them out on it.

Abuse, no matter what label we put on it, is never acceptable. We need to treat ghosting much more seriously since it is still abuse. There is now an emotionally injured human being going around with a shattered heart and a damaged mind ready to bring harm to another for every "Ghost" out there.

The fact that ghosting has become a socially acceptable activity does not make it acceptable or justified. Those who ghost should be held responsible for their activities (or rather, lack of). We need to start holding "ghosters" responsible for their actions and calling them out on it.

Abuse, no matter what label we put on it, is never acceptable. We need to treat ghosting much more seriously since it is still abuse. There is now an emotionally injured human being going around with a shattered heart and a damaged mind ready to bring harm to another for every "Ghost" out there.

We've devolved into an egotistical, self-serving society.

I recognise that we now live in a world where swiping left and right like we're ordering people from a vending machine has become the norm, but perhaps that's the issue. We've grown accustomed to seeing individuals as disposable things that exist just to fulfil our desires.

We've devolved into an egotistical, self-serving culture.

And it's nipping at our heels.