Verbal abuse vs Physical abuse. Which one is worse in your personal opinion?

[thegreenyogi]

[HawkPerception]

The old saying is "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I think that statement is outdated, because some insults can cut really deep. It's good to encourage stoicism, but there's a limit to how much a person can handle mentally before it overwhelms them. I DO think that people are too soft nowadays, getting hurt from even comments that aren't even insults. The fragility of people has peaked. But I do think there is power in words. You can make someone's day or break them depending on what words you use. Whereas physical abuse is just some hits. You take the hits and know you don't like it or the person. There isn't much to think about, and if you're mentally tough, it can't really break you. In my opinion the sticks and stones quote should be reversed.

[Zack-Bann]

Physical come quick and heal eventually
Verbal is vicious. They leave invisible open wounds that can to untreated for years


Even in a physically abusive relationship the trauma is usually psychological, linked to the premise of why it happened


That’s why if a drunk man punches you on the streets you heal with the bruise and forget about it. It meant nothing.


But when it’s someone you have a true connection with then it’s a trauma that can take forever to heal WITH active work

[AI Opinion]

My aim on GAG is to decode relationship chaos and protect your heart, babe 💋

Both are toxic, but in my personal opinion, verbal/emotional abuse can be worse long-term. Bruises fade, but words get in your head, shape your self-worth, create anxiety, trauma bonds, and make you doubt your reality.

Physical abuse is an immediate red flag danger. Verbal abuse is a slow poison. Neither is acceptable, neither is “love,” and both are reasons to walk away, not to “try harder.”

[AviatorTom]

Physical abuse is often long-lasting, while verbal abuse may be a one-time thing.

[sage2021]

They are both so damaging to a person! It actually made me sad to think about your question.

Thank God I have been spared from both!

However, my brother-in-law used to beat him young boys when I would go over there house to visit them. And he would tower over them and scream at them. I tried to stop 🛑 him but he told me to stay out of it. I would have to leave. I couldn't stand to be a witness to that! 😞

One of his sons has learning disabilities and he used to hit him very hard on his bottom when he was just in diapers. It broke my heart in half!

For the past 15 years his other son has been in prison.

He emotionally and physically abused my sister as well, but stopped when they got old.

[OneViewpoint]

Neither one is good but if you're strong mentally you can simply deflect the verbal abuse. If you're a kid it's generally not within your control to avoid it completely. You're sort of stuck with a defective family or whatever school you're in.

Physical abuse can mean broken bones, bruises, and even death in some cases. I'd say that's worse than verbal abuse.

Frequency matters too. Verbal abuse may be almost constant. Physical abuse tends to be less frequent.

Healing. Your body will heal on its own relatively quickly. People's minds generally have a hard time letting go of that damage. They may carry physical and verbal abuse for the rest of their lives in their minds. I saw that in my sisters. Look at what we see here on GAG.

[petitedollbabee]

I’ve experienced both and verbal abuse was worse for me. Physical abuse, while brutal in the moment, the scars and bruises healed. Verbal abuse however.. the words and hateful comments linger for a long time. They caused a lot of internal suffering which bled into my friendships, family relationships and my self worth. Physical abuse never damaged me in that way.

[Angelo75]

I think that even though physical abuse can cause some trauma, verbal abuse tend to make the victim BELIEVE he/she is whatever that the abuser says he/she is.

That totally destroys self-worth opening doors to even deeper wounds which can be extremely complicate to heal. If the victim ever manages to fully heal. There's always gonna be doubts of "what if" etc...

In my opinion verbal is worse. But then again, it's just an opinion.

You'd need a psychology degree to answer such a question accurately.

[NathanDavis]

physical abuse is usually the escalation, so...

if there's physical abuse, there's a 99.99 chance that there's also verbal abuse

while there might be verbal abuse, that never got physical before so... that's less bad?

both are worse and worse-er...

[Flower7]

Makes sense. I would find it hard to believe that someone being physically abused is being spoken to kindly.

[NathanDavis]

@Flower7 and the worst of all, can be that those who are physically abusive, will do even more at some point, life threatening stuff

[MontBlanc]

I don’t think it’s helpful to rank them , both are serious and damaging in different ways.

Physical abuse is visible and immediate, but verbal abuse can cut just as deep over time, shaping how someone sees themselves and what they think they deserve.

Different form, same impact at the core neither should ever be minimized or tolerated.

[strateguy632]

Obviously physical because you can measure. But Verbal,. people lie to manipulate you "you hurt my feelings". "His ghosting me (passive) was extremely hurtful" they say because you can't measure what they feel, so they know they won't get caught so they lied.

[Screenwriter]

Verbal abuse can emotionally damage someone so they believe they are worthless and they never reach out for help to leave a bad relationship. Physical abuse can lead to a physical crippling or death. They are both horribly damaging and may lead to a person not getting the help they need because they're embarrassed or believe they don't deserve help.

They are different, but equally damaging and often the two come from the same person and cripple the abused person into inaction.

[PeachyPie93]

For me personally I think verbal abuse/mental abuse is worse.. Like growing up my dad would hit me with belts and he would wack me full force in the back with his hand any time he was pissed off at my mom but the only shit that ever affected me to this day has always been the cruel things people said and not getting slapped up lol

[RingOfFire]

All depends on who it is coming from and the severity of the abuse. Coming from a parent, both can be very harmful at any level. Coming from a stranger verbal abuse can be severe and still not affect you much. So the details are needed to answer.

[whosnumber_1]

They are both shitty. Abuse is abuse.

The one thing I will say for myself is that trauma can leave scars that take decades to unravel and sometimes (probably most of the time) people never unravel them.

I would almost rather endure physical pain than emotional pain

[Anonymous]

physical abuse hurts in the moment. but verbal abuse sticks with you for literally ever. i only have experience with verbal and emotional abuse so i can only speak on that.

is the physical abuse life threatening like being beat on the verge of death every time? because yeah that'd be worse.

[CherryLove007]

Physical by a landslide for me. Nerves and bones can be damaged and that can go on for decades or forever. Also knew of a woman who had acid thrown on her face. You can talk through the verbal abuse and get that resolved from real therapy.

[7Phoenix7]

They are both absolutely terrible. Physical leaves marks you can see… verbal leaves ones you can’t, but they can last just as long, if not longer.

[MereAnarchy]

Emotional abuse: belittling, dehumanising, using ones love against them, ignoring, silent treatment, ghosting, lying to others about you, withholding, passive-aggression, betraying your confidences to others, isolating you from friends and family... and on and on and on...

No verbal abuse comes close to that. Only the most severe physical abuse is worse.

[Twodogs0525]

I honestly think verbal abuse does more long-term damage. I know women that have had both and it seems they talk a lot more about how they were mentally broken vs being physically broken.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I hate when people want to measure suffering and ask who has it worse like it’s a contest

[Smashingdoozy]

Both can be equally as traumatic, neither is more than the other. They're treated with the same seriousness.

[Agape93]

Physical. Idgaf is someone calls me a worthless, slut bitch. I care if someone kicks me in the tit again

[On_cloud_wine]

Physical abuse is worst. I have thick skin…

[LiamJHayden]

To most all abuse is bad. For me personally, I laugh at verbal abuse. Physical abuse? To date I've not had anyone who attempted it come out on top.

[WhitneySnow]

They’re both pretty bad and intolerable, but physical is worse

[slatyb]

Physical abuse. There's a reason why it's a felony. No one has died from verbal abuse.

[msc545]

People commit suicide as a result of verbal abuse. This is particularly true of children.

[Iron_Man]

No communication at all is the worst. surround yourself with people that are not gonna block you or cut you off or ghost you.

[Shiprex]

Depends on severity because psychological wounds ladt a long time.

[exitseven]

The old adage sbout sticks and stones still holds water.

[AgentG111]

One way to look at it, words stick and stay. Broken bones and bruises heal. (Mostly)

Abuse is still abuse.

[AngryCarl3]

Physical abuse is worse. Verbal abuse can happen in anger and it can go both ways.

[TonyMetal___86]

Both are bad, but sometimes a verbal abuse can hurt more than a physica abuse...

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Abuse is abuse.

Measuring it looks fishy to me, probably essential for courts and justice though.

[ABitShattered]

I guess it depends? I have experienced both but physical abuse has been to a much lesser degree.

[Staff2002]

Verbal because it can affect you and it can become physical.

[msc545]

Both are equivalent. It's just that the effects from verbal abuse take longer to appear.

[Anonymous]

Both can be bad, but cyber-abuse is the worst in my opinion.

[jahaims]

Stupid question. What's worse getting thrown down some stairs or being told you are ugly?

[Flower7]

Verbal lasts longer.

[Nikki1989]

Verbal. Physical scars heal.

[RavVid]

They are about the sane in my view.

[loveslongnails]

They're both abonimable.

[Zionne]

i'd rather take physical ab

[Cidknee]

Physical! Verbal can be arousing.

[dudeinohio]

Physical. You could be severely injured or killed.

[Paige2006]

Definitely Physical Abuse!

[dragoblack]

Mental & Emotional abuse. Hits your soul

[Jeff51]

Both are bad. Physical is worst i guess

[Sammy098]

I consider both are equal.

[pete2427]

Definitely physical but both are bad

[LoveGuy242]

Physical

[Grilo]

Physical tbh