Verbal abuse is literally brainwashing. The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans saved my life. They do not care what you think or feel. You can protect yourself by not responding to the abuse. Abusers are excuciatingly insecure and blame everyone else; they never look at their behavior. I stayed for 31 years, until I found the answer......that book which explained everything. If you google verbal abuse...there is a wealth of information. Unless an abuser recognizes his behavior and gets into therapy for themselves; they will never change. Every time you hear abuse your body releases cortisol and cortisol damages the immune system (as a moderator of an abused survivors' group) I have never met a woman who didn't have all kinds of physical illness.

Violence Wheel - Domestic Violence