Gab

There is something about morning coffee after a good night’s sleep that tends to bring all the thoughts.

This morning, I read an US Weekly article about Sarah Hyland that emphasized how her former partner was both verbally and physically abusive.  And I just need to say, B-R-A-V-O US Weekly, and any other outlet that highlights the trauma of both forms of abuse.

We cannot let verbal abuse become an even more marginalized and overlooked while other forms of abuse are remedied.

It is so important that verbal abuse is discussed as much as physical abuse.  Verbal attacks can be even more difficult to spot and even more quieted behind closed doors.  Yet, it is equally as manipulative, dangerous and damaging to those who experience it.

The fact that we do not give verbal abuse more attention has really bothered me recently. Why is a black eye the only thing that equates to violence worth changing?

Let me be clear, a black eye, or any form of non-verbal abuse, is absolutely unacceptable.  I remain a huge advocate against all forms of violence.  No form of abuse can, nor should, be equated against one another.

Hard is hard. Everyone has their own version of hard.  We cannot measure what one person has dealt with against what another person has dealt with.  We need to begin viewing abuse this same way.

Physical abuse cannot be viewed as ‘harder’ than verbal abuse.  Verbal abuse that becomes physical abuse cannot be viewed as “harder” ...