Children who have been psychologically abused or emotionally neglected in their youth can be scarred for life. They can suffer from all kinds of things. The consequences of psychological abuse or emotional neglect should therefore not be underestimated. But what are the consequences and what can bystanders do against psychological abuse or emotional neglect?
The consequences of psychological abuse or emotional neglect
The consequences of psychological abuse or emotional neglect can include:
- Fear
- Fear of failure
- Stress
- Great uncertainty
- Depression
- Loneliness
- Feeling constantly rejected by others
- Finding it difficult to trust other people
Physical complaints due to psychological abuse or emotional neglect
In addition to the above, people can also develop physical complaints later in life if they were psychologically abused or emotionally neglected in their youth. This could be:
- Headache
- Stomach ache
- Nausea
- Hyperventilation
Establishing intimate relationships is difficult for adults who have previously been psychologically abused or emotionally neglected
Adults who have previously been psychologically abused or emotionally neglected often also have problems entering into intimate relationships. They distrust others or are so insecure that an equal relationship is impossible. .
As an adult you still suffer from your youth
Because psychological abuse or emotional neglect has such a profound impact on a child’s life, some people are haunted by these issues for the rest of their lives. They may suffer from:
- Reliving
- Nightmares
- Anxiety attacks
- Gloom
- Concentration and sleep problems
- Tempers
- Depressions
Harming yourself or trying to commit suicide due to problems in your youth
However, the consequences of psychological abuse and emotional neglect can be much greater. Some people constantly feel so bad that they harm themselves (cutting, scratching). By cutting themselves or injuring themselves in some other way, they feel something again or it is a way to break the tension they carry with them. Others have so little meaning in life that they attempt suicide or walk around with that idea.
TBS patients: many of them were psychologically abused in their youth
Research has shown that many detainees in TBS clinics and many people with mental disorders or addicts were often psychologically abused or emotionally neglected in their youth.
The child’s character determines how it processes psychological child abuse and emotional neglect
Although many people do indeed suffer later in life from the psychological child abuse or emotional neglect that they experienced in their youth, there are also people who find a way to deal with it. In addition, it naturally depends on the severity and duration of the abuse as to how serious the consequences are. The age at which the abuse or neglect occurred is also very important. Perhaps of greatest importance is the character of the child. The way a child processes experiences is of great importance for the rest of a person’s life. It is also very important how others in the environment receive the person in question. If there is a good and loving safety net, it will be easier to experience fewer problems later in life.