Our definition of spousal abuse is similar with the exception that you do not need anyone to tell you that you are being abused. Your given intuition or given senses probably have and now you're seeking out information. You sense it but perhaps at the same time you may not want to accept that this is happening to someone that you know and love - YOU. And, you may not want to accept that you may have to file for divorce.

Were you ever told by someone that you love like your spouse or by someone else that you love or respected that you are maybe fat, lazy or maybe even called an idiot or stupid? Maybe it is even your fault that the kids are always sick or the reason why a relationship that has been going on for several years no longer works. It may even be your fault that the economy has had a downturn.

Well, that may be pushing it but hopefully you will now understand what emotional abuse sounds like if it has not been experience firsthand or notated from the experience of others close to you. And that is an abuser's way, to take what you may be feeling about yourself or what you have expressed out loud, or pull things out of the thin air to use it against you.

Think it through though because abuse is abuse is abuse whether it is done physically and/or emotionally. The effects are the same and can often leave a lifetime of scars and can carry over into not just the personal life of the one it is happening to but also the professional life of that person.

If you are on the being abused end, you may be getting told well as long as you are not being physically abused that everything is ok that is just their way. Or if you are on the giving out end that it is not a big deal and that at times abuse is a natural part of a relationship.

Another saying was if you're being physically abused to get out while those spouses or individuals who were being verbally abused found themselves being told something entirely different. Then is it factual that words don't hurt during abuse? Then is it fact that hearing the word divorce or filing for divorce over and over again is not abusive?

If that is true, then does it only become physical abuse when a black and blue body part becomes noticeable to others? What about the emotionally abused person? Does it only become emotional abuse when the person on the receiving end starts believing what is said?

Let's be honest now, there is no difference in how emotional abuse will affect the mind, body and spirit of the one on the receiving end. As you can see, emotional abuse hurts just as much as the physical stuff or any other type of abuse for that matter!

Physical abuse in most cases leaves a trail of evidence through cuts, bruises, scrapes, etc. Emotional abusers and mental abusers can put on an awesome show when in public with the kids or with the spouse. However, when the doors to the home are closed it quickly becomes two people's words against each other.

Optical illusions are used in the majority of emotional and mental abusers criteria in order to succeed at getting away with abuse even during the divorce proceedings. So if you are dealing with abuse of any kind in your relationship or you are the abuser with the onset of financial stress get help from a trained professional before you make any sudden moves.

Think about it, if you and your spouse can just make it through the financial storms supporting each other as you should, than you can make it through many other life's ups and downs. And part of that supportive role will be getting help when help is needed.