Share
29th October 2023
09:55am GMT
Credit: Getty[/caption]
Ms Bondy went on to say that verbal abuse has been linked to anxiety, depression, substance abuse and even suicide.
She explained that even if people who experience it do not suffer from mental health issues, it can impact their confidence for years after the fact.
“So many people I’ve coached and mentored… had been held back by the words they’d heard when they were children,” the Founder said.
“People were told they were ‘useless’, ‘stupid’ [and] were ‘never going to amount to anything’.”
Ms. Bondy also said that while we often associate verbal abuse with shouting, it’s incredibly important to know that it can be delivered in a normal tone of voice as well.
“[Verbal abuse] can be subtle and quiet.
“Part of it is the words that are used and if one is using words that criticise and demean, as a child growing up, you believe those to be true because you respect the adults in your life.
“So, those words, they stick and they end up defining you.”
The fact is, parents have had to shout at some point or another at their child for bad behaviour, however knowing the difference between correcting a child and verbally abusing them is imperative.
For any adults who think they might have inflicted verbal abuse on a child, Ms Bondy said the most important thing is to apologise and admit the error.
“It’s never too late,” she said.
“An apology is a start and you can repair [a relationship].”
