My toxic trait is using reality television for teachable moments. But honestly? Emotional abuse is a very real thing—on and off TV. And it isn’t always loud, obvious, or dramatic. Most of the time it’s subtle. It’s gradual. It compounds over time. It chips away at you in tiny pieces until suddenly you don’t recognize yourself. Your sense of self-worth, your identity, your confidence—slowly eroded by someone who claims to care about you. Emotional abuse doesn’t need screaming or threats to be har