Regaining Your Self Esteem After an Abusive Relationship
Abuse relationships have the capability to inflict tremendous
physical and psychological distress on the individual in the
relationship. In addition to emotional and literal scars that
are caused by abusive relationships, an individual's self esteem
can be completely demolished. Many individuals in an abusive
relationship have been consistently told and shown they are not
of value, nor of worth.
After constant reminders, both men and women who are victims of
abusive relationships begin to think these derogatory remarks
are true. Instead of the inner feeling of self worth and
confidence, these individuals have little or no self esteem left
after the destructive effects of an abusive relationship.
If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, you should
immediately remove yourself from the situation. Quite often,
this is easier said than done as abusive relationships are
initiated and maintained under the pretense of love and
affection. If an individual has your well being in mind and
truly cares about you, he or she will not verbally or physically
abuse you.
Even though this abusive individual apologizes or begs your
forgiveness, abuse is cyclic and this behavior is part of its
final cycle. Usually, individuals in abusive relationships say
their partner is loving and supportive, then violent and
abusive, then apologetic and loving. This cycle continues until
either party decides enough is enough and ends the cycle.
Individuals in abusive relationships often find themselves
trapped and feel their options are extremely limited or
nonexistent. If you are in an abusive relationship and feel
there is no way out, reevaluate your situation. Turn to friends
or family members who will support you in your decision to break
ties and end the relationship. Individuals who are truly your
loved ones will want whatever is best for you and support you in
any decisions you may make.
If you have no one to turn to, seek help from shelters or
different organizations that are in existence to help people in
your specific situation. With the help of these individuals, you
can begin rebuilding your life and renewing your self esteem.
Once you have made the decision to break free from your abusive
relationship, begin the process of rebuilding your life. This
rebuilding process may take some time, so be prepared to invest
a great deal of time and effort into rebuilding your life. You
may need to make serious choices regarding your future,
including changing locations to another city and changing your
choice of career.
Leaving an abusive relationship will most likely mean moving
into a new home. You may need temporary housing, so consider
staying with friends or family members or staying at a shelter
that specializes in abusive relationships. This is an incredibly
difficult decision, but the best boost to your self esteem will
come after you have made the decision and begin to piece your
life back together.
After you have begun the rebuilding process, you may need to
seek professional help regarding your mental or physical state.
Speaking with a psychologist or counselor may be the initiation
necessary to continue rebuilding your self esteem. Seek out a
professional that will assist you in that specific area using a
variety of different exercises and techniques.
Furthermore, you may wish to join a support group so that you
can speak with other individuals who have suffered similar
abuse. If you do not have access to a support group or feel
attending a support group is not for you at his point in time,
consider accessing the World Wide Web and finding a chat room
that will serve as support. Once you start on your road to
recovery, stay strong and remember you are an individual of
worth and value. This will continue to build your self esteem
and rebuild your life.