“Am I as worthless as I feel?” “Is it so difficult to make him enjoy something?” “Should I stay in this relationship or leave?” “Am I as ugly and nasty as he says?” “Is he right that I am incapable?” “Maybe I don’t really deserve much without him?” I AM AFRAID! If you identify with some of the above questions, then you are probably a victim of emotional abuse – a situation that many consider to be the most painful form of violence and the one that causes the greatest harm to people's self-esteem.

It deeply wounds their soul and leaves marks that can be worse than those of physical violence. The characteristics of emotional abuse – such as insults, insinuations, criticism, and devaluation – gradually erode the victim's self-esteem to the point where they come to believe that it is their fault that they are being emotionally abused.

In her book, The Marks Remain, family counselor Tania Makri presents all dimensions of emotional abuse: what it means, why it happens, how it manifests, and how it can be addressed.

At the same time, she suggests strategies that can help readers recognize when they are being abused, as well as manage effectively all the negative feelings they experience when they are victims of this type of behavior.

A key reason for the usefulness of this book is that emotional abuse poisons relationships with hatred, aggression, and contempt. Obviously, in such a toxic environment, it is difficult not only for love to grow but even to survive.

Therefore, especially for couples who are willing to stop blaming each other and start taking responsibility for their behaviors, her advice can mean the difference between separation and saving their relationship.