TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains stories of emotional abuse
devil in disguise
How emotional abuse can take control of your life By Emily white It’s 1:30 in the morning, and I can’t put my mind to rest. Could I have done more? Was I not enough to save him? If he loved me, why did he pull me under with him? I once heard somewhere that we accept the love we think we deserve. It is so easy to become blind to someone’s flaws when they consume your every thought. It is a blessing and a curse to love. It is difficult to identify when you are in an emotionally abusive relationship when there are no physical signs, no bruises or cuts. But the psychological aspect deserves special attention, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “because victims who lose their independence, self-esteem, and dignity tend to remain in abusive situations.” It took me a while to realize it. When you care about someone, it’s natural to want to be there for them in every way possible. When I met him, he was kind, protective, and funny. But what made me want to save him was the light within him that had been dimmed. He had his fair share of demons that would come out to play. I took on those demons until they got the best of him, and when they did, it was somehow my fault. 70
The Lexington Line • S/S 21 • vol 7 • no 2
