Avoiding Verbal Abuse Is Essential for My Mental Health

You always want to avoid verbal abuse. Unfortunately, for many individuals, this behavior is a regular occurrence. It can happen at home, school, or work, creating a stressful environment. In some cases, individuals can try to navigate away from verbal abuse, while others cannot. I am one of the lucky ones who got away from this negative situation and worked hard to avoid verbal abuse in the future. 

Avoiding Verbal Abuse Was a Coping Mechanism at First

I felt victimized when I first broke free from a verbally abusive relationship. My self-esteem was battered, and I never wanted to feel worthless again. As a result, I managed to cope by avoiding verbal abuse in all its forms.

If I were in a situation where someone started to belittle me or talk down to me, I would immediately leave. I began to find excuses to escape the person or persons who made me feel bad. At first, this strategy worked for me. It got me away from the negative behaviors that were triggering.

However, this coping mechanism only worked for so long. This flight response had me avoiding many situations, continuing to isolate me due to my fear of possible verbal abuse. I was treating the symptoms instead of dealing with the problem. 

Avoiding Verbal Abuse Now Is Better for My Mental Health

I still try to avoid verbal abuse today. My strategy for keeping these negative behaviors out of my life has changed, though. Instead of physically leaving an altercation every time, I started using different methods to support better relationships and my mental health. Some ways I avoid verbal abuse now include:

• Making better choices for positive relationships in my life
• Speaking up when someone makes negative comments towards me or others
• Talking to others about my verbal abuse experience to bring more awareness
• When all else fails, I do still sometimes walk away from verbal abuse

Years of therapy have taught me that I am in control of my life. I can choose who I build relationships with and what situations to avoid. I am thankful for the tools and resources I've gained throughout my healing journey.

Avoiding verbal abuse isn't easy or simple. But by making conscious decisions, I can ensure I stay away from negative situations that can affect my mental health.