The Hidden Dangers of Identifying as a “Victim”
The Power of Labels: Why We Need to Rethink “ABUSE”
Antonieta Contreras, Trauma, Sex, EMDR, NFB therapist, Author
This article intends to shed light on the dangers of calling many situations as abusive and assigning or wearing the label of victim. Identifying oneself as a victim can start a self-destructive cycle for many individuals, which could cause dysfunction and emotional struggle that could be as or more damaging than the “abuse.”
The Power of Words
As a clinician, I have witnessed the profound impact that words can have on our psyche. Our thoughts, values, memories, and all the information that we accumulate in our brains shape our experiences and affect the functioning of our nervous system, ultimately giving rise to our emotional responses. Even everyday words, such as “abuse” or “victim” can carry significant weight and therefore warrant review.
When The Term “Abuse” Is Not Factual
The term “abuse” is often used loosely and without proper consideration of its meaning. According to the definition provided by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, abuse is defined as “to use or treat so as to injure or damage.” From this definition, it can be deduced that if an…
