The Hidden Dangers of Toxic Relationships

How emotional abuse can cause PTSD.

Toxic relationships can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with emotional abuse being particularly damaging. Seeking help and support is essential to overcome the effects of unhealthy relationships and move towards healing and recovery. Photo by JD Mason on Unsplash

Toxic relationships can have devastating consequences on one’s mental health, leading to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Regardless of the type of abuse, be it emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual, the impact of toxic relationships on one’s mental health cannot be overstated.

Although PTSD is often associated with experiencing violence or war, research has shown that it can also be caused by long-term exposure to psychological trauma, such as emotional abuse or neglect in toxic relationships.

Sadly, statistics show that the effects of toxic relationships are far-reaching, with 60% of men and 50% of women experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetime and approximately 7–8% of the population developing PTSD at some point.

Consider these other startling facts:

• A study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that individuals who experienced both childhood and adult emotional abuse were at a higher risk of developing PTSD symptoms than those who only experienced one type of abuse.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that individuals who have experienced childhood trauma are up to 15 times more…