What is worse to be verbally or physically abused?

Answer 1

Most physical pain heals, but words hurt forever.

Answer 2

It depends. The younger or less intelligent the survivor is, at the time the abuse occurs, the more physical abuse will hurt versus verbal (because the words will go over the person's head....or the survivor can more easily "go away mentally" and not hear the words, versus having to do that intensely enough to not feel pain). But, the thing is, physical abuse eventually makes the survivor *tough* (if it doesn't kill or cripple first), and so it becomes harder for the abuser to maintain control/get their perp jollies on via physical methods.

Which is where the verbal stuff comes in....since the adult abuser is almost always going to have an edge in real-world experience and can play superior (in terms of effect that is) mind games and guilt games, which are harder to build up resistance to.

So yeah, either one hurts, and for the most part, if you see or hear one, you can almost always count on the other's being in there *somewhere*. Abusers are just mean that way.

And I know, "both" isn't much of an answer, but for most folks it is the truth and it is their lives.

Answer 3

There are people in this world that actually like to be physically abused. This is evidenced by the countless reports of spousal abuse that goes on for years before something is done to resolve it.

Verbal abuse can be just as painful, too, and the psychological results can be way more lasting than the physical abuse. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to get beyond the pain endured as a child. I know this to be true from someone I know.

Answer 4

I would say physically over verbally or psychologically! There's nothing like the pain of a damaged reputation or soul from someone's cruel action versus the pain of a bit of physical abuse! In other words, say I stuck a camera in your home or hacked into your computer and libelled your reputation behind your back so that you could never exercise what you enjoy doing or never again or never have sex again because I decided to show people your worse attributes that turned everyone off from you based on your appearance! Or, would you rather go through some physical pain but be able to move on with your life without anyone knowing about it?! And you could make millions of dollars, become a rock star, promote your ideas, goals and objectives even though you suffered some physical pain?! I would rather choose the physical torture over the psychological torture!

Answer 5

Verbally, because it is more hurtful, emotional, and psychological damaging in the long run. Physically abuse hurts too at that particular time but the wounds and bruises heal in time. Rarely, verbal abuse heals completely.

Answer 6

Physically abused

Answer 7

Physically

Answer 8

verbal attacks tend to take longer to heal than physical ones, I hope you are okay tonight where ever you are and no matter how much you love a person dont stay in an abusive relationship you could lose yourself and actually start questioning your self worth be strong and do what you must for you.

Answer 9

Physical bruises heal much faster than emotional ones, but a person who is being physically abused is usually being emotionally abused as well - making it much worse than one or the other.

Answer 10

i have lived with both
and i must say verbal is the worst
at some points you think you are being driven nuts
and if they can turn it on and off if someone is there
how nice they can be and just in a split second can be horrid again