For those of us who aren’t familiar with the terminology, ‘emotional neglect,’ it's a parent’s failure to respond to a child’s emotional needs and is the opposite of abuse and mistreatment.

How Emotional Neglect Differs

Emotional neglect differs from abuse and mistreatment in that it isn’t about harmful actions – it’s about the absence of action. When a parent fails to respond to a child’s emotional needs, the silence can be just as damaging as hurtful words or behaviors. It took me years to realise that just because my emotions were overlooked didn’t mean the burden was mine to carry. Through deep reflection and self-exploration, I came to understand that my worth was never defined by the neglect I experienced.

Emotional Neglect: Struggling to Trust Your Emotions

Children who experience emotional neglect often grow into adults who struggle to trust their own emotions. They may find it difficult to recognise their feelings or connect with the emotions of others. A sense of disconnection can follow them into adulthood, making it hard to rely on or trust those around them. Without emotional validation early on, understanding themselves and the world – can feel like an uphill battle.

As parents, it is important to understand our actions. It’s not easy for a child who has been through emotional neglect to understand or explain their difficulties and in those circumstances it is easy for a child to blame themselves. That said, not all children will go through their childhood and understand that emotional neglect is what they have experienced.

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