A groundbreaking investigation offering a definitive plan for recognizing and overcoming intimate partner violence and the breadth of its impact.

Loving You Shouldn’t Be Hurting Me: Psychological Abuse and Its Effects on Physical and Mental Health is dedicated to women worldwide, of whom nearly half in the United States (or approximately 57.6 million women) have experienced psychological aggression. This invisible cruelty is the underpinning for all other forms of mistreatment, making it the most difficult obstacle from which to recover. Moreover, clinical research indicates that subtle psychological abuse inflicts the most devastating damage. This book addresses the global crisis head-on.

Anyone trapped in an unhealthy, toxic, or controlling relationship will find a clear path forward in this book, whether the relationship is ongoing, long over, or rooted in childhood trauma. Those who have experienced physical or mental health symptoms as a result of this chronic manipulation will find immediate validation and a comprehensive roadmap on how to truly heal the mind, body, and spirit.

While statistics show women are more likely to experience the adverse physical and emotional effects of abuse—and are historically more likely to seek out self-help resources—this work is inclusive of all kinds of trauma. Drawing on a career that has been devoted to helping all survivors heal, Dr. Neal also explicitly addresses how men and children are impacted by the sweeping devastation of psychological abuse.