Verbal Abuse: Survivors Speak Out on Relationship and Recovery

This book changed my life. I KNEW something was dreadfully wrong but I couldn't put a name to it until I read this book. I felt like I was reading my personal story and finally had the validation and knowledge that I needed to take steps to stop the crazy-making behaviors of my husband. We are not out of the woods yet by any means, and I may still end up leaving, but finally moving in the right direction started with this book.

Almost a year ago I realized that what I had been experiencing from my husband was emotional, phsycological, abuse and later on, I happened upon this book. I ordered it and while awaiting it's arrival, I was questioning myself as to was this book really aimed at what I had been going through, after all, there was NO name calling. I immediately went to the back cover for more insight to the content of the book, when it came, and it asked several questions concerning your relationship. I knew after the first two, this book was for me and still is. There are so many types of and methods of verbal abuse that are so subtle, you wonder if the abuser is even smart enough to know what they are doing, but to my amazement and relief, I saw myself on almost every page. I am now proceeding in going through with a divorce, not as a result of this book, that my husband has eluded to wanting for the past year but won't follow through because he never wants to look like the "bad guy", too late. This book has been very useful in helping me to realize that I had lost my "self" and respect for and that in no way could I ever hope to regain any self respect or find me again as long as I stayed in this situation, not to mention what I was modeling to my children, which was in no way healthy. I must say, since I started standing up for myself and calling my husband on every lie he told, the abuse worsened as the need to control what was slipping away became stronger, he has been mad at me ever since I stopped believing all his put downs and promises I knew would never come to pass...........Oh well, I feel great about myself again even though divorce is never fun. This book gave me the courage to stand up for what was right and true by putting my life in print for me to see. The realization was phenominal and I'll be forever grateful. If you have the slightest suspiscion, get it, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain!

I have been married for 16 years as a verbally abused wife. For 15 1/2 years I just thought my husband was "mean and evil" until I saw Patricia Evans book in the bookstore "Verbally Abusive Relationship and how to recognize them". This book had my husbands name all over it and finally my eyes were opened to what I had been going through for so long. I am now in the process of getting divorced and am relieved to know that I will be getting my life back and living it as I please. Every woman must read this book.

This book was of great help to me. I realized there were other people out there that had experienced the same things that I had. Basically that I wasn't crazy. I was married for 16 plus years and leaving the relationship was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but the best for all involved. My daughters had become a target for his verbal abuse and now they are more aware that relationships are not healthy in that form. Their dad has become more aware of his actions, he has gotten better with time but as far as changing completly, I don't feel in my heart right now that it is possible. I have forgiven but life is to short and it is all about choices.....excellent book. I have read both of Patricia Evans books and several others on this subject.

I am recovering from a 10-year relationship with a man I loved and thought wonderful, who shared with me great world adventures and great times on many levels - but who at the same time was slowly, subtly, making me doubt myself through criticism, public humiliation, tuning out, rude remarks and sudden outbursts of anger. Because this was mixed with fun, adventure and "love", the total effect was confusion and - by the end of it - a complete dismantling of spirit. Patricia Evans' two books have guided me through a long (now 3 years) healing period, which even now is marked with a deep, unidentifiable pain - especially on encountering my ex-husband. The power of Patricia Evans' books lies in their specific outlining of what is actually happening in a relationship where one's deepest self is not honored or cherished. Any woman who is feeling an unidentifiable unrest about her marriage owes it to herself to read these books!