Bless your heart. You are SO right - verbal abuse like that DOES affect people very much!! My parents didn't say ANYTHING to me - no love, no pats on the back, no hugs - we were just 'there' like a piece of furniture. So ignoring a child can have dire effects on the self-esteem too.

I was married to a man who verbally abused me for 26 years. He had me so beaten down that my self-worth was zero. Like you, he told me that no one else would want me. He called me horrible names. Finally after 26 years, I got a divorce - and then he was so mad I thought he'd kill me!

Now I've built my self-esteem back to where I respect myself - it took therapy to do it, and I'm glad I went. Maybe therapy would help you too. This can hurt for a long time if you don't get it taken care of.

I wish you the best of luck and I'll pray for you. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee