The Hidden Trauma of Emotional Abuse

To be treated with respect and pride

The subtle ways, so sly and sly

That all your self esteem will die

And little by little, day by day

Your spirit just fades away

The blaming, the shaming, the name calling

The pressure that causes the falling

The guilt trips and silent treatment

The lack of compassion and sentiment

The threats of leaving and being gone

The promises that will never be done

The lies and the secrets, the cheating and more

The relationship that feels like a chore

The gaslighting, the mocking, the lies

The demanding and the alibis

The insults and the criticism

The power struggles and the addiction

The lack of boundaries, the lack of respect

The violence and the disrespect

The orders and the ultimatums

The feeling of a prison at random

The blaming and the shaming and the pain

It’s a cycle that’s hard to maintain

And soon you feel like you’re not strong

And you don’t belong

If these signs of emotional abuse

Are starting to take their toll on you

It’s time to take a stand

And seek out a helping hand

And reach out to someone who cares

And who can help you through your fears

And show you the way out of the darkness

Can be a sign of something bad,

When one can’t speak and one can’t hear,

The other one will feel so sad.

The lack of understanding,

Can be a sign of something wrong,

When one can’t trust and one can’t forgive,

The other one will feel so gone.

When first you meet, the signs that start

Are often hard to tell apart

From loving gestures, sweet and kind

But soon the warning flags will bind

Around your heart and keep it safe

From toxic traits that will enslave

The love and joy you once had known

That now will be forever gone

A constant need to be controlled

The way you dress, the way you hold

The way you think, the way you speak

The very air you now must seek

A steady onslaught of criticism

To crush your spirit and your vision

The constant need to be right there

To make sure you do not dare

To question or to feel your own

Feelings of confusion, filled with dread

Seeing the signs of emotional abuse ahead

Sudden changes in attitude and mood

Toxic words that make you feel so blue

Finding ways to isolate you away

Limiting your freedom day by day

The fear can start to grow each night

Take back control, stand up and fight.

My eyes are open, I can see

Can't ignore the truth in front of me

Of an emotionally abusive situation

It's a hard thing to explain or mention

Controlling behavior, isolation, and fear

Abuse of any kind isn't fair

But words are the hardest to take

We must remember our own mistakes

Because we can all be vulnerable targets

And learn how to detect abuse’s true markers.

I will love your heart and soul and help you heal,  

From signs of emotional abuse, I am here to seal.

Eagerly, I'll wait while calming your fears;  

Listen closely as we tackle those tears.

Uncovering signs of a toxic relationship,  

My gentle hug tells you that this we'll tip-toe through;

Cheerleading positive changes we'll keep insisting,  

And make sure this is something that's not persisting.

O healthy love, bright light in the darkest days

Be not forgotten nor ignored!

Your gentle kindness and wise ways

Gives strength to be restored.

Yet often in our lives, relationships arise

That threaten your truth and peace.

From subtle mind games to sharp insults sharp as knives,

It's time to break free from these.

So if you're held down by someone that should help raise high,

Look for the signs of emotional abuse.

When early signs appear take courage and don't shy —  

You deserve respect and love.