Emotional Abuse (new member)

Hi all, i just joined the forum this evening hoping to gain some insight. I'm a 25 yr. old female girl whom has just moved out on her own as of 2 years ago. It was not my initial plan, but living with my father had become unbearable, and it seemed liked the only logical thing to do.
My father as long as i can remember has called me names, and has made me feel like im walking on eggshells. Infact it had gotten so bad that the last 2 years of high school (up until the point i moved out) i had never invited a single friend over because i was scared he would throw one of his frequent violent fits of anger, resulting in him screaming at me and throwing things all to the horror of my friends. In my high school years he would always scream at me, and call me names such as "whore, bitch, slut".. very hurtful things. He would also sometime become physically violent with me by slapping me across my face or punching my arm. I figure as a result of this i developed social anxiety disorder, and now have reaccuring panic attacks as often as 3 times a week.
I guess my reasoning for writing here is to be reasurred that this is a form of abuse, and not just me being overly sensitive. There's many other things i would love to write about this situation, but i will leave it at that for now.
Please, any information or advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Yes, this is defined as emotional as well as physical abuse. But all that really matters is how you feel about it and cope with it. Have you looked into treatment for the effects this may have on you?

Hello and welcome to the forum.

No, you are definitely not oversensitive, what you experienced was definitely abuse. I was a bit horrified to read how he would throw things and call you those names etc. I'm so sorry to hear you experienced that abuse.

What other things would you like to write about the situation?

Have you considered seeing a therapist to help you work through your feelings and the after effects that this abuse has had on you?

This is defiantly abuse, you are not being over sensitive. The way he has treated you is disgusting.
Do you still have contact with him?

Thank you everyone for all the replies. And unfortunatly greatexpectations, i do still have frequent contact with my father. I believe i read some where once that victims of abuse and their abusers typically find themselves in positions where they co depend on each other, which would be exactly what i'm experiencing now. I work for my father, but thankfully ive finally been sending out some resumes (although its hard to find a similar paying job as to what im at now). It will also be difficult since i have such low self esteem, and it constantly eats away at me saying you're too stupid and incabable to obtain a better job. My low self esteem has effected me for quite some time. My last two boyfriends were almost 20 years older than me simply because i didnt have the self esteem to seek out somebody more suitable. I also developed a horrible case of beauty dismorphic disorder from the constant criticsm i was recieving at home at the time. You name a plastic surgery or beauty enhancing procedure and i can either say ive had it or ive gone in for the consultation... i look back on it, and it's all so painful... i was pretty, i had a modeling contract, smart, etc.
Another thing that bothers me about my father is his "teasing" with the intention to hurt.. for example theirs a chinese man that works at our office that my father frequently asks to teach him a new word in mandarin each day. However when my father speaks back to him in mandarin he says the words in such a condescneding way, and then will proceed to talk back to him in english with an asian accent in a very racist way.
I believe he does these things because he feels as long as he was "acting" intriqued with something and inquiring about it this then allows him the green light to joke to hurt... or at least i feel when he does these sorts of things those are his intentions.. I know this isnt a really good example of emotional/physical abuse.. but its just something i've noticed he does with others in public that really bothers me.
Btw i can't find spelling check on this, so please excuse my awful spelling
I

Its a shame you work for him, getting a new job would be a very good idea, but in a time of recession its not easy.
The abused often end up in a co-dependent relationship as you've said, some sort of Stockholm Syndrome thing maybe.
Do you feel any affection for him, is there an attachment?
Have you overcome the problems with body dismorphic disorder. Raising your self esteem is the answer, it can be done but your father there to put you down on a regular basis is not helping.

You do need to get away and start afresh.

I think that it is good that you are looking for a new job. I think when you can spend more time away from him it will allow you to develop more positive relationships with others and also give you time to reflect on the way that the abuse has effected you.