Searching for a Word. - Wordsmith.org

Hello AWAD,

I am searching for a word that would encompass the pain one feels from abuse.

Any and all replys would be greatly appriciated.

Thank you,

Rev. Alimae

"Humiliation" springs to mind, but that probably only covers a certain set of abuses.

Betrayal?

What kind of connotation does 'abuse' have in this context, Rev Alimae? I suspect a valid answer would depend on whether you are thinking of specifically verbal, physical, emotional or some other kind of abuse, since it's a word rich in varied associations.

agony

"psychic pain"

Boohoo, and pass me that �clair
They cry and eat while millions watch and click. This wacky, weeping site is an Internet phenomenon.
Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2005

Extract:

Yet the site's appeal is rooted in something deeper than the absurd; the effect of the clips is actually visceral. The scenes evoke the kind of unself-conscious, shame-free expressions of psychic pain that few have indulged since childhood. They capture people at their most vulnerable, taking childlike refuge in another primal experience: eating. Yet the food fails to comfort, creating a wacky incongruity. Put simply, it's at once funny and disturbing to watch someone sob uncontrollably, break for a mouthful of �clair and resume sobbing.

http://snipurl.com/fojl

Maverick,

In answer to your question of

In reply to:
What kind of connotation does 'abuse' have in this context, Rev Alimae? I suspect a valid answer would depend on whether you are thinking of specifically verbal, physical, emotional or some other kind of abuse, since it's a word rich in varied associations.

I was wondering if there was a word that would encompass them all. Or is that it, "Abuse" is the word that describes the pain?

Rev. Alimae

Betrayal is a good word but quite powerful enough.
Thank you for your assistance.

Rev. Alimae

Yes, humiliation would only cover one aspect of abuse while it is occuring, yet during the after math within the healing process this word fits all aspects of abuse.

I am speaking of the enacting process, so it is an excellent word, just not quite what I am looking for.

Thank you for your assistance.

Rev. Alimae

Or is that it, "Abuse" is the word that describes the pain?

Abuse is the instrumentality which delivers the pain, AlimaeHP, not the pain itself.

Actually, it is irrelevant whether the abuse is "verbal, physical, emotional or some other kind of abuse", at least in terms of the impact of the pain on the victim's psyche.

Pain is pain.

Different people have different threshholds of pain, and different triggers for pain.

Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, pain is in the mind of the sufferer.

Yet again another superb use of the human language to define pain felt by another. Yes Agony I think is the closest one yet to describe the depth of emotion I am looking for.

Thank you for your assistance,

Rev. Alimae

In reply to:
Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, pain is in the mind of the sufferer.

Brovo!

Rev. Alimae

Glad we could be of assistance, AlimaeHP.

It's good to see you posting again after such a long sabbatical. You always bring a fresh perspective.

I offer that the description might depend on the victim. If the person does not feel that he or she deserved it, then I would say shock or outrage might fit. If, however, the person either accepts the fact of abuse and/or feels he or she does deserve it, then I would say resignation or despair.

Interesting angle, Jackie.

If a person is so lacking in self-esteem that they feel they deserve the abuse, would they feel "despair"? Probably they would just try harder to please the abuser.

A lot of women in these relationships don't try to escape. They don't even want to escape. They may be "in despair", but they are not despairing.

They may even think they are happy. That's the illness.