Emotional abuse, sometimes known as psychological abuse, is a form of abuse where an abuser consistently shames, humiliates and criticizes an individual in order to manipulate them. It can be challenging to spot emotional abuse because this kind of manipulation can be extremely subtle. Common examples of emotional abuse include gaslighting, where an abuser uses manipulation tactics so a victim will question their own perception of reality. However, emotional abuse may be as little as consistent passive aggressive comments. These actions leave victims feeling unsafe and unsure of themselves and their surroundings. Since this type of abuse is hard to recognize it can be challenging for victims to understand what has happened to them and how to seek help.