Lack of emotional support can have profound and long-lasting impact on the child’s development and overall wellbeing. Unlike physical abuse, which is manifested with visible injuries, emotional abuse and the lack of emotional support can be the result of habitual behaviors that contribute to the destruction of the child’s feelings of self-worth and security.
Emotional abuse can take a variety of forms, ranging from constant criticism, belittling, and mocking, to silencing the child or setting them up with unrealistic expectations.
In many cases when this form of abuse is present, the child can be overprotected, denied normal social interactions like those his peers have with their friends or family members, or subjected to frightening or disturbing experiences such as bullying or domestic violence.
Often, emotional abuse is present along with other forms of abuse but it can also occur alone, through neglect, manipulation, or simply by withholding of love and support.
The effects of the emotional abuse they experience can easily affect every aspect of the child’s life, from emotional control, to self-esteem, concentration, learning, and socialization.
Children who have been emotionally abused may be shy and withdrawn, anxious, or overly clingy, and some may even develop certain self-soothing behaviors such as rocking or similar repetitive movements.
Also, they may experience problems with their sleeping, eating, and communicating. Sadly, most children who have gone through such negative experience such as emotional abuse, tend to bring their feelings of shame or fear with them into adulthood.
Because symptoms can be very subtle, emotional abuse is often is missed, and the impact of it is great because it shapes the child’s view of themselves, of relationships, and of the world around them.
It is crucial to identify and treat emotional abuse and lack of emotional support, because with early intervention and nurturing, it is possible to mitigate its long-term effects.
