Childhood emotional neglect is nowhere near as obvious as one might imagine. First, there’s the reality that a child may not recognize maltreatment unless it has something to contrast it with. As that child grows into adulthood, the fallout from earlier neglect can be misidentified. You can end up struggling as an adult and not know why.
All of the above can hamper any attempt at healing. Unless underlying causes can be found and resolved, it is tricky to experience a deep recovery. Therefore, it can be immensely important to first learn how to recognize when the emotional neglect you suffered as a child is rearing its ugly head.
The Key Sign of Childhood Emotional Neglect in Adults
Perhaps the most pervasive sign is a sense of numbness or emptiness. This can impact you in a variety of ways, e.g. you experience detachment from your feelings and the feelings of others. Here are some examples of how this detachment may manifest:
- It could be a literal physical sensation, e.g. a knot in the stomach or a tightness in their throat.
- You feel difficulty when attempting to discern what people expect from you in terms of social interactions and emotions. You also may find it impossible to understand why people behave as they do.
- Expressing your feelings is a major challenge to the point of being tongue-tied. You often don’t even know how you feel, or your emotions are absent
- The fear of missing out is present but you truly do not know what it is you’re missing out on. This can lead to a perception that you are uniquely flawed.
- Your a fiercely self-reliant
Other Key Signs of Childhood Emotional Neglect in Adults
- Perfectionism and a profound fear of rejection
- Judging yourself too harshly and then experiencing low self-esteem
- You’ll do anything to avoid a sense of being dependent on anyone else
- Never asking for help
- Being easily overwhelmed You feel chronic guilt and shame
- When you’re angry, it is usually self-directed
- You’re a people pleaser
- You easily aim compassion at others — even strangers — but are always very hard on yourself
Of course, each person is different and it’s not unusual for signs and symptoms to overlap. Regardless, it is absolutely essential that put in the work to seek help while practicing as much self-care as possible.
How to Start Healing From Childhood Emotional Neglect
1. Acceptance
It can be incredibly difficult to acknowledge abuse or neglect at the hands of a loved one. But accepting that this happened is crucial for healing. In addition, you must work toward accepting how this childhood experience is still impacting you. There is no shame in being affected by something that was completely out of your control. What is under your control now is getting the help you need.
2. Self-Awareness
The next step after embracing acceptance is to increase your self-awareness. As mentioned above, childhood emotional neglect can result in victims losing touch with their emotions. This makes it doubly important to pay close attention to whatever you do feel. Your parents and caregivers did not attend to what you felt. This is now your chance to re-parent and nature yourself. A good therapist can help you reconnect with your emotional self.
3. Self-Compassion
A big part of re-parenting yourself is learning self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same compassion and empathy you would have for a loved one or close friend. Keep track of what you like so you can give yourself a steady supply of that!
Ask For the Kind of Help You Want and Need
To avoid neglecting your own needs, connect with a skilled professional who will definitely prioritize them. Trauma therapy is a proven path toward recovery from childhood emotional neglect. I’d love to talk more with you about all of this in a safe and confidential consultation.
