12 behaviors common in adults who grew up without emotional support
11. Difficulty accepting love
“I have trouble accepting any kind of love because growing up, it was always given with strings attached or used a tool for manipulation. I don’t trust that others have the capacity to love me unconditionally, so I hide away parts of myself, never allowing myself to experience the vulnerability that comes with being loved, chosen and accepted by others.”
Having been raised in a home where love was conditional, inconsistent, or just absent, can make people feel like they are not deserving of love.
12. Difficulty accepting joy
“I always feel like I am doing everything wrong… It’s very hard to convince me I am good at something.”
Joy wasn’t something children who experienced emotional abuse often felt like growing up, and now that they are adults, that feeling is strange to them and they have hard time accepting it because they believe that things can go wrong any moment.
Conclusion
Emotional abuse during childhood can have a long-lasting impact on one’s life, influencing the way one thinks, feels, and interacts with others. Issues related to trust and conflict, regulating emotions, and accepting love can be a result of the experiences one had during childhood. The most important thing is to understand the impact and work towards healing, which can help one unlearn the negative behaviors.
