The Subtle Ways You Lose Yourself in a Toxic Relationship

“Emotional abuse is any pattern of behavior that undermines a person’s sense of self-worth and reality.” ~Beverly Engel At first, the changes were small. I stopped wearing that outfit everyone liked because they said it didn’t look good on me. I let certain friendships fade because it made him uncomfortable. I laughed less at things he didn’t find funny. I face-checked myself to make sure my expression was pleasing to him. I shrank just slightly, in ways no one else would notice. Then it got bigger. I stopped trusting my own judgment because he told me I was too sensitive. …