Abuse
Abuse can leave lasting emotional, psychological, and physical effects, even after the harmful behavior has ended. If you have experienced emotional abuse, physical violence, sexual abuse, financial control, or another form of mistreatment, healing is possible with the right support.
The team at Sagent Behavioral Health provides compassionate, trauma-informed care to help survivors process their experiences, rebuild confidence, and move forward at their own pace.
What Is Abuse?
Abuse is any pattern of behavior used to control, intimidate, manipulate, or harm another person. While abuse is often associated with physical violence, many forms of abuse can cause harm in lasting and damaging ways.
Abuse can occur in many types of relationships, including:
- Romantic relationships
- Families
- Friendships
- Caregiver relationships
- Workplaces
- Other social or professional settings
It is important to remember that no matter what form abuse takes, it is never your fault.
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Take the next step toward support. Request an appointment online or call our team to get started.
Types of Abuse
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
Emotional abuse involves ongoing behaviors intended to manipulate, control, or diminish another person’s reality or sense of self-worth.
Examples may include:
- Constant criticism or insults
- Manipulation or gaslighting
- Chronic lying or deception
- Humiliation or intimidation
- Isolation from family and friends
- Threats towards you, loved ones, or pets
- Controlling behaviors
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse involves intentionally causing bodily harm or threatening physical violence.
Situations may include:
- Hitting, slapping, kicking or punching
- Shoving or restraining someone
- Choking or strangulation
- Throwing objects
- Using physical force to intimidate
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse includes any unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact or behavior.
Examples may include:
- Sexual assault
- Coercion or pressure into sexual activity
- Sharing intimate images without consent
- Sexual exploitation
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse occurs when someone uses money or financial resources to control another person.
This may include:
- Restricting access to money
- Taking control of bank accounts
- Preventing someone from working
- Stealing money or identity
- Creating debt in another person’s name
What Abuse Can Feel Like Day to Day
The effects of abuse don’t always end when the situation does. Survivors often continue to experience emotional and physical symptoms that can affect daily life and overall well being.
You may find yourself thinking:
- “I constantly question myself or my decisions.”
- “I feel anxious or on edge, even when I am safe.”
- “I have trouble trusting other people.”
- “I feel angry or irritable when nothing is outwardly wrong.”
- “I blame myself for what happened.”
- “I avoid situations or relationships because I’m afraid of being hurt again.”
- “I feel emotionally numb.”
Many survivors struggle with these feelings, and therapy can provide a safe space to begin their healing journeys.
Approaching Abuse Recovery With Sagent
Rather than just working on moving past the abusive experience, abuse recovery focuses on fostering a safe environment where you can process what happened, develop healthy coping strategies, and begin rebuilding your sense of safety and self.
Depending on your needs, treatment may include:
Individual Therapy
Working one-on-one with a therapist can help process difficult experiences while understanding the impact of the trauma. Together, you work on building skills to support healing.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Trauma can affect the mind and body in significant ways. Our clinicians trained in trauma informed care foster an environment built around safety, trust and empowerment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help identify and change unhelpful thought patterns that may have developed after experiencing abuse while building healthier coping strategies for the future.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
For some individuals, EMDR may be recommended to help process traumatic memories. Using guided bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, EMDR can help reduce the emotional intensity of difficult experiences, so they become less distressing over time.
Psychiatry & Medication Management
Medication may be recommended as part of a personalized treatment plan if symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, or PTSD are affecting your daily life.
If You're Currently Experiencing Abuse
If you're in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services.
If you're experiencing abuse but aren't in immediate danger, help is available. Reaching out can feel difficult, but you deserve support, safety, and the opportunity to heal.
Helpful resources include:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
(800) 799-7233
or text START to
88788
