In preparing for the topic of emotional abuse, I found this list of basic needs, and thought it to be helpful and empowering for women who may be in an emotional abusive relationship. This is not a personal list created by myself, but nonetheless found it to be helpful and thought provoking when applying it to any relationship (mother, in laws, sister, friend, lover).

Basic Needs in Relationships

• The need for good will from the others.
• The need for emotional support.
• The need to be heard by the other and to be responded to with respect and acceptance
• The need to have your own view, even if others have a different view.
• The need to have your feelings and experience acknowledged as real.
• The need to receive a sincere apology for any jokes or actions you find offensive.
• The need for clear, honest and informative answers to questions about what affects you.
• The need to for freedom from accusation, interrogation and blame.
• The need to live free from criticism and judgment.
• The need to have your work and your interests respected.
• The need for encouragement.
• The need for freedom from emotional and physical threat.
• The need for freedom from angry outburst and rage.
• The need for freedom from labels which devalue you.
• The need to be respectfully asked rather than ordered.
• The need to have your final decisions accepted.
• The need for privacy at times.

Tags: love, relationships, respect

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 10:41 pm and is filed under Health & Wellbeing, Love & Romance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.