Psychological Abuse By Parents

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Psychological Abuse By Parents

December 15,2021 By: Mansi poddar

Identity formation is a crucial part of the development and it starts in childhood. Our sense of identity includes how we see our worth, the way we regulate our emotions, and how secure and confident we feel in ourselves. This identity can be severely disrupted by parental psychological abuse that results in developmental trauma. Psychological abuse by parents can look like –

Making you feel unwanted – I wish you were never born; you are of no good
Minimizing your achievements
Constantly comparing you to your siblings or peers to the point that you start to resent them.
Ridiculing you in front of others.
Often manipulating you into doing things that benefit them, especially through inducing guilt or shame.
Telling you that you’re worthless, unloved or not enough
Blaming you for family problems.
Neglecting your essential needs as a child.

Child emotional abuse is linked to poor mental development and difficulty making and keeping strong relationships. It can lead to problems in school and at work as well as to criminal behaviour. Emotional abuse is particularly damaging to a child’s self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.

If you have experienced psychological abuse in childhood that is leading to behavioral or psychological issues, difficulty in relationships, or blockages in personal/professional development, then I highly encourage you to seek out professional help from a mental health expert. They have the tools and resources to help you unlearn beliefs/behaviors that may have benefitted you in the past but do not serve you. If you have a reason to suspect a child is experiencing harm or is at risk of experiencing harm, contact an authority in your state and talk to them about your concerns.