That's a very intersting subjec Lisa, because I think that when it comes to verbal abuse the term tends to be used quite freely. I really think that something can only qualify as verbal abuse of there was no provocation. I usually put it into perspective by thinking of it in physical terms.

If I hit someone, even lightly, and they hit me back harder I can not then call what they did abuse just because they may have hurt me more than I hurt them. Or, if I do want to call the other party's action abuse then I must call my own actions abuse as well. In that case both parties are detrimental to each other's physical and mental well being.


It really makes me wonder when I see people calling certain language and actions abuse when they seem to be provoking said language and actions. It just strikes me that people in general tend to forget the things that they do and are usually more willing to play the victim than to really examine the things that they say and do.

Please remember that I am not pinpointing any one person or group. It's just that when I learned to stop being a victim I really grew as a person. I realized that the only way that someone could use and/or abuse me was if I was allowing them to or provoking those behaviors in others.