85 Emotional Abuse Quotes About Mental Abuse

Looking for quotes about quotes on emotional abuse? We have rounded up the best collection of emotional abuse quotes, phrases, sayings, captions, (with images and pictures) to inspire you to take a stand and walk out of your abusive relationship.

What Does It Mean To Be Emotionally Abused?

Emotional abuse also known as psychological abuse, involves nonphysical behavior that belittles another person and can include insults, put-down, verbal threats, or other tactics that make the victim feel inferior, ashamed, threatened, or degraded.

It is often associated with situations of power imbalance in abusive relationships, and may include bullying, gaslighting, and abuse in the workplace.

Gaslighting is an extremely effective form of emotional abuse that causes a victim to question their own feelings, instincts, and sanity, which gives the abusive partner a lot of power.

Also See: Love Hurts Quotes

Emotional abuse can be as damaging as physical abuse, and can severely impact your mental health and lead to lower self-esteem and self-confidence. It is used as a tactic to control, frighten or isolate someone.

A lot of people including children suffer from mental and emotional abuse. And very few of them talk about it. They suffer with all the mental pain and helpless alone.

This may lead to depression too. Reaching out family and friends and speaking your heart out will always help you to overcome the emotional scars and hurt feelings.

Check out these inspirational intimidating quotes will encourage you to be confident and overcome intimidation by your fearless attitude.

Famous Emotional Abuse Quotes

“Abuse is the means in which violence retards love.” ― Inga Muscio
“Emotional abuse is the leading reason of suicide victims.” ― Unknown
“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.” ― Edmund Burke
“You survived the abuse. You’re going to survive the recovery.” ― Unknown
“No one deserves to be treated like trash, especially not by the person you love.” ― Unknown
“To deny someone’s feelings or experiences it to literally deny their reality.” ― Danu Morrigan
“Be gentle with your past selves for doing what they had to do to get through it.” ― Jordan Pickell
“To not have your suffering recognized is an almost unbearable form of violence.” ― Andrei Lankov
“Living with an emotional abuser means that you’re living in a constant state of stress.” ― Dr. Anne Brown
“Revenge is surviving, getting out, and being a better person than you were, and breaking the cycle.” ― Kristy Green
“Some scars don’t hurt. Some scars are numb. Some scars rid you of the capacity to feel anything ever again.” ― Joyce Rachelle

emotionally abusive relationship quotes
“[Emotional abuse is] the demolition of someone’s identity. And it’s abuse of their psychological and emotional self.” ― Dr. Liz Hale
“Emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse. Worse! You can heal broken bones; you can’t heal a broken mind.” ― Dia Reeves
“Abuse changes your life…Fight Back and change the life of your abusers by Breaking Your Silence on Abuse!” ― Patty Rase Hopson
“I’m still coping with my trauma, but coping by trying to find different ways to heal it rather than hide it.” ― Clemantine Wamariya
“Bullying is emotional abuse. Nobody deserves being bullied and nobody has the right to bully and judge others.” ― Agatha Chelsea
“Overcoming abuse doesn’t just happen, It takes positive steps every day. Let today be the day you start to move forward.” ― Assunta Harris
“The only person that deserves a special place in your life is someone that never made you feel like you were an option in theirs.” ― Shannon L. Alder
“Verbal abuse is still abuse. It’s abuse in the form of words. Don’t assume that a few hurtful words won’t cost them their life. Words hurt.” ― Unknown
“Abuse grows from attitudes and values, not feelings. The roots are ownership, the trunk is entitlement, and the branches are control.” ― Lundy Bancroft
“Emotional abuse kills. The abuse might not be physical but being constantly wounded emotionally eventually wears out the heart and the body.” ― Folaranmi

emotional abuse quotes
“There are far too many silent sufferers. Not because they don’t yearn to reach out, but because they’ve tried and found no one who cares.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

quotes about emotional abuse
“Emotional abuse is any type of abuse that is not physical in nature. It can include everything from verbal abuse to the silent treatment, domination to subtle manipulation.” ― Beverly Engel
“The only people that can’t handle the truth are those that suffer so much anxiety that they will live in denial, in order to prevent their illusion from being destroyed and feeling more anxiety.” ― Shannon L. Alder
“The results of any traumatic experience, such as abuse, can only be resolved by experiencing, articulating, and judging every facet of the original experience within a process of careful therapeutic disclosure.” ― Alice Miller
“Most people inevitably get treated the way they permit themselves to be treated. If you allow someone to treat you like you’re worthless, then they will. Respect yourself enough not to put up with being mistreated.” ― Unknown
“People say you need to be strong, smart, and lucky to survive hard times, war, a natural disaster, or physical torture. But I say emotional abuse—anxiety, fear, guilt, and degradation—is far worse and much harder to survive.” ― Lisa See
“When a toxic person can no longer control you, they will try to control how others see you. The misinformation will seem unfair but rise above it, trusting that others will eventually see the truth, just as you did.” ― Jill Blakeway
“Just because a person doesn’t put hands on you, that doesn’t mean they aren’t abusive. Abuse is control, blatant disrespect, and also hurtful words. Don’t settle for emotional abuse thinking it’s ok because it’s not physical.” ― Unknown
“Children often have more difficulty with (emotional abuse) because they are not cognitively developed and have an understanding of what is happening. They believe parents and adults so they don’t know who to talk to about it.” ― Laura Kelly
“The abused partner tries so hard to prove his or her love and loyalty in the hopes that the abuser will finally wake up and connect in a healthy, loving, and mature way. Sadly, unless the abuser is highly motivated to change, this doesn’t happen without intervention.” ― Barrie Davenport
“The scars from mental cruelty can be as deep and long-lasting as wounds from punches or slaps but are often not as obvious. In fact, even among women who have experienced violence from a partner, half or more report that the man’s emotional abuse is what is causing them the greatest harm.” ― Lundy Bancroft
“Emotional abuse is characterized by intent, a power disparity, escalation of behavior, duration, and repetition. It is based on a need for power and control. The tactics may differ slightly from abuser to abuser, but the results are always the same. Emotional abuse destroys the hope of a real relationship.” ― Barrie Davenport
“With emotional abuse, the insults, insinuations, criticism, and accusations slowly eat away at the victim’s self-esteem until he or she is incapable of judging a situation realistically. He or she may begin to believe that there is something wrong with them or even fear they are losing their mind. They have become so beaten down emotionally that they blame themselves for the abuse.” ― Beverly Engle

Sad Emotionally Abuse Relationship Quotes

When people are manipulative and play mental games in relationship, then the abused is ripped off its self-worth, self-respect and confidence.

Also See: Silent Treatment Quotes

Learning more about the signs and situations in which emotional abuse may occur can help people identify their situation and seek the help they need.

Controlling relationship can give red flags which you ignore on a regular basis. These may include manipulation, abusive behavior, anger issues, cheating, and many other signs which might give you a clear picture.

“Often things are as bad as they seem.” ― Sheldon Kopp
“I hope you see what you’ve done to me.” ― Matthew Little

emotional abuse quotes pics
“The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.” ― Astrid Alauda

emotional abuse quotes images
“Lies don’t end relationships — the truth does.” ― Shannon L. Alder
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” ― Maya Angelou
“Emotional abuse poisons a relationship and infuses it with hostility, contempt, and hatred.” ― Beverly Engel

Mental Abuse Quotes
“It is not the bruises on the body that hurt. It is the wounds of the heart and the scars on the mind.” ― Aisha Mirza

quotes emotional abuse
“Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it’s the place where we find the deepest heartache.” ― Iyanla Vanzant
“When someone isn’t treating you right, no matter how much you love them, you’ve got to love yourself more and walk away.” ― Unknown
“It’s better to break your own heart by leaving, rather than having that person break your heart every day you’re with them.” ― Unknown
“The only person that deserves a special place in your life is someone that never made you feel like you were an option in theirs.” ― Shannon L. Alder
“It is better to break your own heart by leaving an abusive relationship, rather than having that person breaking your heart every day.” ― Unknown
“Poisonous relationships can alter our perception. You can spend many years thinking e worthless… but you’re not worthless; you’re unappreciated.” ― Steve Maraboli
“Staying in an unhealthy relationship that robs you of peace of mind, is not being loyal. It is choosing to hurt yourself mentally, emotionally and sometimes, physically.” ― Kemi Sogunie
“Domestic abuse happens only in intimate, interdependent, long-term relationships – in other words, in families – the last place we would want or expect to find violence.” ― Leslie Morgan Steiner
“Well, I went through some emotionally abusive relationships and allowed myself to not be properly respected as a lady, as a human being even, though I tried everything I knew to be a lady.” ― Gloria Gaynor
“There is a fine balance between honoring the past and losing yourself in it. For example, you can acknowledge and learn from mistakes you made, and then move on and refocus on the now. It is called forgiving yourself.” ― Eckhart Tolle
“Narcissistic abuse is a form of psycho-emotional abuse that takes place when a pathological narcissist targets another individual and exposes them to trauma. It can also manifest as physical, financial, spiritual and sexual abuse.” ― M. Wakefield
“Screaming at children over their grades, especially to the point of the child’s tears, is child abuse, pure and simple. It’s not funny and it’s not good parenting. It is a crushing, scarring, disastrous experience for the child. It isn’t the least bit funny.” ― Ben Stein
“Never put your emotional health at risk by allowing a toxic family member to be abusive or disrespectful, especially with those who show no remorse or take accountability. Have enough self worth to know you deserve better and walk away. You can not have a healthy relationship with those who choose to abuse, disrespect, control and manipulate.” ― Unknown

Quotes About Emotional Abuse

“Emotional abuse is the silent marriage killer.” ― Unknown
“A house where a woman is unsafe is not a home.” ― Unknown
“So many people suffer from abuse, and suffer alone.” ― Pamela Stephenson

Verbal Abuse Quotes
“Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength.” ― Henry Rollins
“Part of the healing process is sharing with other people who care.” ― Jerry Cantrell
“Hate speech is not free speech. It’s verbal and emotional abuse.” ― Dr. Dashanne Strokes
“It is impossible to correct abuses unless we know that they’re going on.” ― Julian Assange
“Be prepared, people are going to judge every little thing about you.” ― Charlena E. Jackson
“Gaslighting. That’s what it’s called. The most awful form of emotional abuse.” ― Thabile Ngwato
“Telling a woman you love her while continuing to mistreat her is mental and emotional abuse. Stop.” ― R.H. Sin
“Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.” ― Dave Pelzer
“The abuse dies in a day, but the denial slays the life of the people, and entombs the hope of the race.” ― Charles Bradlaugh
“Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.” ― Tacitus
“Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.” ― John Adams
“It’s not just men who abuse. It’s women. We may not be able to physically abuse, but boy can we emotionally abuse a man.” ― Dr. Liz Hale
“Psychological invalidation is one of the most lethal forms of emotional abuse. It kills confidence, creativity, and individuality.” ― Dr. Anne Brown
“Emotional abuse is like being continuously kicked in the shins. It can be worse than getting one punch in the face, and it cements itself.” ― Ashley Banjo
“An emotionally abusive relationship, in very simplistic terms, is much like standing up in a too hot bath and sinking back in so as not to feel so dizzy.” ― Jackie Haze
“Bullies may be the perpetrators of evil, but it is the evil of passivity of all those who know what is happening and never intervene that perpetuates such abuse.” ― Philip Zimbardo
“Be alert! Some people have problems. Don’t let them be your problem and don’t ever allow their problems to infect you through their words and actions! Stay happy!” ― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
“He didn’t hit her, but he destroyed everything she had. I don’t know if she even realized it was abuse, because it wasn’t physical. It was mental. People don’t think of that as being abused.” ― Unknown
“When someone constantly puts you down, leaves you feeling like you can’t do anything right, or make you feel worthless. Just know it’s not your fault, this isn’t love, it’s emotional abuse.” ― Unknown
“Psychological abuse. Where you don’t see it happening and by the time you do get a glimpse of reality your mind is left with so many scars, self-doubt, self-blame, anxiety, fear, depression, worry, stress, isolation, anger, guilt and pain, to name a few.” ― Unknown
“Unless you are a survivor of emotional abuse you have no idea what it means to fight daily battles in your head with a person you no longer have contact with. Verbal, emotional and physical abuse has residual effects on the survivor. You don’t just “get over it”!” ― Unknown
“Victims of emotional abuse can experience more severe psychological reactions. A victim may feel their emotions are affected to such an extent that he or she no longer recognizes their own true feelings related to issues or situations the abuser is trying to control. As a result, the victim’s self-concept, confidence, and independence are systematically broken down.” ― Barrie Davenport

Mental Abuse Quotes

It may be a close friend, family member, or a partner who is really difficult to get along with. When you’re around them, you feel manipulated and dominated.

Also See: Toxic People Quotes

Dealing with such people can be never easy so you should find ways to get rid of the toxicity that clouds your life.

“Abuse is the weapon of the vulgar.” ― Samuel Griswold Goodrich
“Just because it’s explainable, doesn’t mean it’s excusable.” ― Unknown
“Mental abuse is much more painful than physical abuse because you are consumed by your own thoughts.” ― Unknown
“The scars from mental cruelty can be as deep and long-lasting as wounds from punches or slaps but are often not as obvious. In fact, even among women who have experienced violence from a partner, half or more report that the man’s emotional abuse is what is causing them the greatest harm.” ― Lundy Bancroft
“I think we start suffering as soon as we come out of the womb. I think that people tend to stereotype. When they think of suffering, they think of abuse – physical abuse, emotional abuse, poverty, that kind of thing. There’s different levels of suffering. I don’t think that it has to do with how much money you have – if you were raised in the ghetto or the Hamptons. For me, it’s more about perception: self-perception and how you perceive the world.” ― Lucinda Williams