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  • Do you struggle with abuse in your family?

  • It's a really hard question to answer.

  • No one wants to think their parents are abusive, but many parents are.

  • Hundreds of thousands of kids around the world struggle with familial abuse every year.

  • And the problem is most kids don't know what abuse actually looks like.

  • To help you understand the markers of emotional and physical abuse, here are eight signs that your parents are not treating you the way they should.

  • And before we begin, we wanna make a disclaimer that this video is for educational purposes only.

  • If you relate to any of these signs on this list, please reach out to someone, whether you're looking for help or just a friend to talk to, call any of the hotlines listed in the description below.

  • No matter how stressed or alone you feel, remember that help is just a phone call away.

  • Now, let's get back to the video.

  • One, they're physically violent.

  • Have your parents ever been physically violent with you?

  • If a parent uses any kind of physical violence, they're abusive.

  • Many abusive parents make excuses for their physical violence.

  • But according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there is never a good reason to physically abuse the child.

  • If this is happening in your family, you have an abusive parent.

  • Two, they're verbally abusive.

  • Verbal abuse can be a tricky thing to identify.

  • Many kids don't realize their parents are even being abusive, but personal attacks, criticisms and other wounding comments are a common form of emotional abuse.

  • Verbal attacks may never leave physical scars, but aggressive and deflating comments can damage the child emotionally.

  • After years of verbal abuse, many children struggle to rebuild their confidence and self-esteem.

  • Verbal aggression from a parent is child abuse no matter how you slice it.

  • Three, they get excessively angry.

  • How often does your parent get angry?

  • Do they raise their voice on a regular basis?

  • Excessive anger is a common sign of both emotional and physical abuse.

  • Parents who explode and fly off the handle tend to lose control.

  • In the midst of their anger, they may lash out at their children.

  • Even if they apologize afterwards, parents who lose their tempers and hurt their children are abusive.

  • Four, they make you compete for love.

  • Do your parents withhold their love?

  • Do you have to go out of your way just to get their attention?

  • Abusive parents will treat love like a tool.

  • They love you when you're doing what they want but when you do anything else that love disappears.

  • Abusive parents use their love to manipulate and control you.

  • But parents should love and support their kids no matter what.

  • In a healthy parent-child relationship, love is a basic assumption.

  • If your parents make you compete for their love or attention, they may be abusive.

  • Five, they neglect responsibility.

  • Do your parents ignore you?

  • Many abusive parents show little interest in their children.

  • They don't know where their kids are or what they're doing and they usually don't care.

  • Abusive parents pay attention to their kids only when their kids are causing them trouble.

  • Otherwise abusive parents remain distant and oblivious.

  • Six, they isolate you from others.

  • Do your parents isolate you from other members?

  • Do they lie to keep you under their thumb?

  • Isolation is a form of emotional abuse.

  • Parents will limit their child's ability to escape from painful situations or stand in the way of their happiness or success.

  • Seven, they abuse drugs or alcohol.

  • According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, abusing drugs and alcohol is a common sign of parental violence.

  • Not only do these substances distort the brain, but they're commonly associated with destructive and neglectful lifestyle choices.

  • Substances influence decision-making, impaired judgment and alter a person's mood.

  • All of those factors can lead to dangerous or abusive interactions between a parent and child.

  • And eight, they threaten your wellbeing.

  • Was your parent threatened to hurt or disrupt your daily life?

  • Many abusive parents before using physical violence threaten their children.

  • The possibility of violence will still intimidate or emotionally damage a child.

  • Threats of any kind are unacceptable from a parent.

  • Children should feel safe and comfortable in their homes.

  • When abusive parents make threats, they're teaching their kid to be afraid of their own family.

  • Have you or someone you know dealt with abusive parents?

  • If you can relate to this video, always know that you're not alone and there is always someone to talk to and someone who can help.

  • If you found this video helpful, share it with someone who might benefit from it.

  • Click the like button and subscribe for more psychology content and as always, thanks for watching.

Do you struggle with abuse in your family?

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