Abuse is not always physical. In fact, emotional abuse is more common than most people think. Most likely, teens experiencing emotional abuse are feeling isolated and wholly overwhelmed, trying to figure out how to deal with the issues that come with abuse or trauma. They tend to feel ashamed and blame themselves, so they don’t let others know anything is wrong. Many adolescents do not know how to cope with emotional abuse as a teen.
Enrolling in a trauma therapy program to learn how to effectively cope with the effects of emotional abuse can be the best thing for your teen. Being among other teens going through similar experiences in space supported by a professional therapeutic team sets each patient up for success.
To learn more about how teens can fall victim to abusive relationships and how they can cope with emotional abuse through a trauma therapy program, call Imagine Omaha today at 888.306.2681.
What Is Emotional Abuse?
Emotional abuse can take many forms and, in many cases, is not easily detected on the surface. It’s a type of abuse that isolates, controls, humiliates, or demeans someone. It can also be misunderstood and written off as something less serious than it really is. It can be hard for the one being abused to communicate and share what they are going through without fear of repercussions from the abuser. Emotional abuse is most common in romantic relationships. Abusers may even prey on teens as an easier target, knowing they will “take” the abuse and fear telling anyone what is happening.
Emotional abuse in a relationship can include:
- Controlling behavior
- Possessiveness
- A power imbalance
- Verbal insults
- Intimidation
- Enforcing excessive made-up rules
- Isolation from family and friends
- Over-the-top affection and kindness after fights
- Gaslighting
- Humiliation in front of others
- Blackmail
- Jealous behavior
How to Cope with Emotional Abuse as a Teen
Developing healthy coping skills is the best way to cope with emotional abuse. Unfortunately, many teens will turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms because they do not know any better, and they want to numb and forget the abuse they are experiencing.
Unhealthy coping techniques include things like:
- Isolation from friends and family
- Using substances
- Absorbing the guilt, blame, and shame of the abuser
- Becoming codependent on the abuser
- Blocking out and ignoring the abuse and the associated issues
Healthy ways to cope include tools and techniques that provide constructive ways to manage the emotions and effects of abuse. Through trauma therapy, a patient will work with therapeutic professionals to focus on the best coping techniques for the individual’s unique situation.
Healthy coping techniques can include things like:
- Breathing exercises
- Visualization techniques
- Setting boundaries
- Yoga
- Journaling
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Avoiding isolation
- Rebuilding important relationships
- Forgiveness
Seeking professional behavioral health treatment for trauma and emotional abuse can help your teen or adolescent regain control of their life and enhance their overall health and well-being.
Contact Imagine Omaha for Coping with Abuse as a Teen
Victims of emotional abuse can easily fall victim to substance abuse as a way to cope with their negative feelings and emotions resulting from the abuse. This is why receiving treatment at a program that offers a continuum of care and the option to treat co-occurring disorders can be highly beneficial. The treatment team at Imagine Omaha is well-versed in how mental health disorders and substance use disorders can go hand in hand, especially as related to abuse and trauma.
Programs and services available at Imagine Omaha include:
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Trauma-informed care
- Medication management
- Schooling options while in treatment
Contact Imagine Omaha at 888.306.2681 or reach out online if you think your teen may be in an abusive relationship and learn more about trauma therapy programs for teens.