Emotional and Psychological Abuse

One way an abuser can gain control is by cutting you off from the people who care about you. This is called isolation. Over time, this can make you feel like the abuser is the only person you can turn to.

Here are some ways an abuser might try to isolate you:

• stopping you from seeing or talking to your family or friends;
• making you feel guilty when you do spend time with others;
• wanting to know where you are at all times and expecting constant updates;
• refusing to let you use a car or putting up other barriers so you cannot leave the home;
• acting jealous when you spend time with other people, so much that you may stop seeing them just to avoid a fight;
• making you ask for permission before you go places or do things;¹
• not giving you a key to the house;
• refusing to give you money, taking away your money or credit cards, or using other forms of financial abuse;
• not letting you work or not allowing you put your child in daycare, which prevents you from working; or
• refusing to let you learn English or stopping you from otherwise pursuing an education.

Isolation can happen slowly, and you might not notice it at first. Over time, though, it can take away your support system and make it harder to get help.

¹ See The National Domestic Violence Hotline, What is Emotional Abuse page