Do you look to everyone else like you have a perfectly fine life on the outside, but on the inside you live with self-doubt? When you walk into a room full of people, do you feel like you are not like them or maybe you don’t believe that you are inherently worthy.
Emotional neglect can be more destructive than physical abuse. When a person’s feelings are neglected in childhood, their very sense existence is not affirmed and this leaves a negative impression on a person that lasts into adulthood. Many times the psychological roots of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem, is a common condition called Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN). The overall sense an adult has when he was emotionally neglected as a child is that he does not have a strong sense of self. He doesn’t notice his own feelings, he fails to act in his own interest, he neglects to give compassion and attention to what he senses intuitively. According to author of Running On Empty Dr. Jonice Webb, Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) leaves a tell-tale finger print.
Signs that someone is being held back in life because of childhood emotional neglect include:
- A feeling of not mattering or not existing
- Not being able to remember obvious abuse that accounts for your feeling bad
- Thoughts like: Feelings don’t matter, I just need to get over it.
- Feeling empty or hollow inside
- Believing that there is “something” inherently wrong or different about you that makes you inferior.
- KNOWING your emotions, but not being able to actually FEEL it in the moment
If you are struggling with any of these issues and you want help to start living with more confidence and meaning, don’t wait another day to get the help you need. Contact me and we can discuss your situation and what your options are.