4 Signs Of Emotional Abuse, According To Experts - Forbes

Experts stress that there is no one way to approach an emotionally abusive situation. Every relationship and individual is different and complex, and some may involve physical or sexual abuse.

Assess safety levels. "The person who knows best what the safety aspect is … is the person who's being abused," says Dr. Kar. Ask yourself how safe you feel approaching the abuser. How safe do you feel leaving the relationship? Then, decide the best course of action.

Build a support system. If safety is a concern, Harte recommends finding people around you who care about you, whether it's family, friends, coworkers or a therapist, sharing your discomfort and rallying them behind you. They can also help you create a plan of action.

"In these circumstances, people might hesitate to ask for help because they don't know what kind of help they need or because they don't know what the result of that asking will be," says Harte. "But just asking is all you have to do. You don't have to worry about what follows after." Other experts also acknowledge that the victim might feel protective of their abuser, and is therefore hesitant to let others know what is really going on.

Figure out whether leaving makes sense. Harte likes to "err on the side of safety," which means withdrawing from the abuser "without much engagement, if possible, to just get out." That way, she says, it's not about negotiation or giving the abuser other chances.

But it's not always possible to leave a relationship if, say, it's your boss or there are children or finances involved. In this case, you may need to talk to the person and gauge their intent.

Approach the abuser. Engel encourages confronting the abuser (if it's safe to do so), which takes courage. But it can be a "very straightforward solution if the person is doing it unintentionally." If so, the conversation could be the wake-up call they need to seek help and change. However, you don't necessarily need to stick around.

On the other hand, intentional abusers are likely to deny the abuse and gaslight the victim. "They'll do everything to get out of it and they won't work on trying to change it," Engel says.

Your Safety Is Important

If you are a survivor of sexual assault and need support, call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

How to Rebuild Your Mental Health

If you've gone through emotional abuse, the psychological effects may outlast the relationship itself. In order to restore your mental health and energy, experts suggest:

Individual therapy. Therapy can help the survivor rebuild self-esteem and confidence. Survivors may also be able to work on any anger, become more independent and stand up for themselves.

Join a support group. Find groups of other emotional abuse survivors. They can be online, in person, informal or led by a professional. Community can offer some reassurance that you're not alone in your experience, as well as support and advice from people who have been through it before.

Care for your body. Physical and emotional well-being are tied together, so taking care of your body is a way toward recovery. Get enough sleep, move your body, eat well and have some fun, Harte suggests. Mindfulness practices like yoga can also be helpful.

Be open to new relationships. Survivors may  be very careful about who they partner with next, but Dr. Kar says not to avoid that. "This is part of your history and your reality, but actually allow that new partner to help you have a different experience," she encourages.