Psychological abuse occurs when someone uses threats and causes fear in you in order for them to gain control.
Psychological abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Threatening to harm the person or her or his family if she or he leaves;
- Threatening to commit suicide;
- Threats of violence;
- Threats of abandonment
- Stalking/criminal harassment;
- Destruction of personal property;
- Verbal aggression;
- Socially isolating the person;
- Not allowing access to a telephone or social media;
- Not allowing a competent person to make independent decisions;
- Inappropriately controlling the person’s activities;
- Treating a person like a child or a servant;
- Withholding companionship or affection as a form of manipulation; and,
- Threatening to have the person deported (if they are an immigrant).
Use of undue pressure to:
- Sign legal documents;
- Not seek legal assistance or advice;
- Move out of the home;
- Make or change a legal will or beneficiary;
- Make or change an advance health care directive;
- Give money or other possessions to relatives or other caregivers; and,
- Do things the person doesn’t want to do.
