In the aftermath of a toxic relationship, it’s important not to ignore the potential effects of emotional abuse on the brain.
What Is Emotional Abuse?
When we think of abuse, thoughts of physical violence or severe neglect often come to mind first. But abuse can sadly take many other forms, including emotional abuse.
As defined by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, emotional abuse is characterized by “non-physical behaviors that are meant to control, isolate, or frighten you.”
Also sometimes referred to as psychological or mental abuse, emotional abuse typically occurs in the context of relationships such as marriages, romantic partnerships, or long-term friendships.
Examples of emotionally abusive behaviors include:
- Calling you names or making insulting comments about your appearance
- Habitually teasing you and then claiming they were “just joking” when you ask them to stop
- Yelling at you, which may include threats of physical violence
- Gaslighting you, or trying to get you to doubt your experiences and memories
- Belittling your successes and exaggerating your setbacks
- Exhibiting extreme jealousy as a means of controlling who you associate with
- Intentionally embarrassing you in front of other people
- Limiting your access to money
- Threatening to harm themselves if you try to end the relationship
Continued exposure to emotional abuse can have a negative impact on virtually every part of your life, including your physical and mental health.
Effects of Emotional Abuse on the Brain
The effects of emotional abuse on the brain can include both structural and functional changes.
Three areas of the brain that are especially vulnerable to traumatic stress are the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
Amygdala
The amygdala is a small region of the brain with responsibilities that include regulating fear and emotion.
When the amygdala receives information that indicates the body is in danger, it triggers the sympathetic nervous system (which is commonly referred to as the “fight or flight” response). This prompts reactions such as redirected blood flow, heightened arousal, elevated heart rate, and minimizing of pain signals.
According to a December 2006 article in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, multiple studies using positron emission tomography (PET) and functional MRI (fMRI) found that memories or reminders of traumatic experiences can trigger increased activity within the amygdala.
This means that simply being reminded of past emotional abuse can cause a person’s brain to believe that it is currently in danger. This sense of perpetually being threatened can cause anxiety, muscle tension, exaggerated startle response, and a range of other distressing symptoms.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus is involved with memory and learning. The studies mentioned in the previous section found that reminders of traumas such as emotional abuse can impair the ability of the hippocampus to function as designed.
A May 2018 study in the journal Biological Psychiatry found that the size of the hippocampus was “significant smaller” in people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than in participants who were exposed to trauma but did not develop PTSD.
The authors of the May 2018 study noted that other studies have found that hippocampus size is smaller in trauma-exposed people than in those who had no history of trauma.
While this suggests that psychological trauma may lead to reduced hippocampal size, researchers have not yet determined a definitive cause-effect relationship among hippocampus size, trauma exposure, and PTSD.
Prefrontal cortex
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) exerts top-level control over executive functions such as problem-solving, decision-making, planning, attention, and working (short-term) memory.
An October 2014 study in the journal Neurobiological Stress found a link between PTSD and reduced density within the PFC. This study also reported that previous researchers detected reduced PFC activity in the brains of participants with PTSD.
Dysfunction within the PFC means that people with histories of emotional abuse and other types of trauma may have difficulty focusing, making decisions, and solving problems.
How to Heal from Emotional Abuse
One of the many remarkable aspects of the brain is called neuroplasticity. This term refers to the brain’s ability to effectively rewire itself after physical and/or psychological trauma.
Neuroplasticity can involve several actions, including:
- Shifting functions from damaged areas of the brain to undamaged regions
- Regenerating neurons to replace nerve cells that were irreversibly harmed
- Forming new neural pathways to resolve communication disruptions within the central nervous system
This means that, even if the effects of emotional abuse on your brain were highly disruptive, healing is possible. And though neuroplasticity is a natural, involuntary process, there are several actions you can take to help your brain to heal. These actions include self-care and seeking professional help.
Self-care
Self-care describes a variety of activities that can improve your health, elevate your mood, help you cope with stress, and enhance your overall quality of life. Examples include:
- Eating nutritious food
- Exercising regularly
- Getting an appropriate amount of sleep
- Spending time with people who are important to you
- Learning something new
- Finding an enjoyable hobby
- Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and other substances
- Meditating
- Writing in your journal
- Practicing yoga
Professional treatment
Effective treatment for abuse-related trauma can include both prescription medication and therapy.
While no medication has been developed specifically to treat trauma, various meds may be able to help with symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Depending on the nature and severity of your symptoms, you may benefit from:
- Antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), venlafaxine (Effexor), or paroxetine (Paxil)
- Anti-anxiety medications such as Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), and Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Therapy can help you process your experiences, learn to establish healthy boundaries, make positive lifestyle changes, and rebuild your confidence and self-esteem. This part of your treatment may include elements such as:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy and education
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
- Red light therapy
- Holistic therapies
There is no right or wrong way to heal from trauma due to emotional abuse. This is why it’s so important to find a provider who will take the time understand your unique needs and goals, then develop a truly customized treatment plan just for you.
Learn More About Trauma Treatment in Atlanta
North Atlanta Behavioral Health is a trusted provider of customized outpatient care for adults who have been living with untreated trauma and other mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our center in Atlanta, GA, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program (OP). Each program is staffed by compassionate professionals who are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all patients.
To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
