Am I Being Emotionally Abused?

Dear Lisa Love,

I read the article about emotional abuse and it made me think of me and my boyfriend. Sometimes he can be so nice and so sweet but then there's this really mean side that comes out. When we have our fights he always makes me feel stupid somehow; everything is always my fault.

He doesn't like my friends and that is even more stress for me. Now I hardly see them any more because they don't like him either and they keep pressuring me to dump him.

I love him, Lisa, but I don't know if I should leave him.

- Carol

Dear Carol,

It sounds like you are in an emotionally abusive relationship and that you know this already. You seem to have doubts about your boyfriend; you should listen to your instincts. Do you really want to be with someone who makes you feel stupid or inadequate?

Furthermore, your boyfriend seems to be controlling your life to a certain extent; for instance, your relationship with him is isolating you from your friends. This is not a healthy dynamic, and it's not a good sign that all of your friends don't think this guy is right for you.

You've already read the emotional abuse article but have another look at it so you can determine if the check list of symptoms apply to you.

- Lisa Love