There's enormous power in words.
It's no surprise that verbally abusing a child -belittling, shaming or threatening - can contribute to depression and anxiety that can plague the adult for years.
Now, a study of more than 5600 people, aged 15-54, offers evidence.
"Those who were verbally abused had 1.6 times as many symptoms of depression and anxiety as those who had not been verbally abused and were twice as likely to have suffered a mood or anxiety disorder in their lifetime," study author Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, an FSU professor, said in a prepared statement.
Words as Powerful at Sticks and Stones.