Childhood Emotional Neglect

Most parents DO NOT intentionally intend to cause harm or neglect, however emotional neglect can happen even with the best intentions.  

Child emotional neglect (CEN) is the parent's failure to meet their child's emotional needs during the early years.  

CEN involves unresponsive, unavailable, and limited emotional interactions between that person and the child. Children's emotional needs for affection, support, attention, or competence are ignored.  The effects of emotional neglect, when unaddressed, go on to last through into adulthood.

When considering if you have been impacted by CEN, here are some questions to ask:

• Do your emotions feel so big that at times they overwhelm you?
• Perhaps, there are times you don’t feel anything at all.     
• Is it hard to know what you feel or need?    
• Do you feel valued for what you do rather than for who you are?  
• Do you have trouble relying on others or asking for help?  
• Do you judge yourself harshly?  
• Do you feel uncomfortable in social settings?  

Learning to safely process your emotions can be life changing; allowing for safer, and more authentic connections.  Understanding your feelings and needs enables you to effectively communicate, care for yourself, know yourself, trust yourself. and create healthy boundaries.  

You can heal from emotional neglect and build healthy and secure attachments moving forward.  

Do your emotions feel so big that at times they overwhelm you?    Perhaps, there are times you don’t feel anything at all.     Is it hard to know what you feel or need?    Do you feel valued for what you do rather than for who you are?  Do you have trouble relying on others or asking for help?  Do you judge yourself harshly?  Do you feel uncomfortable in social settings?  Learning to safely process your emotions can be life changing; allowing for safer, and more authentic connections.  Understanding your feelings and needs enables you to effectively communicate, care for yourself, know yourself, trust yourself. and create healthy boundaries.  You can heal from emotional neglect and build healthy and secure attachments moving forward.