Surviving Childhood Abandonment by a Parent |
There are certain types of trauma that do not leave any marks on the outside. Yet, their impact is very much alive internally and shapes what you identify with as "love," how you see yourself, and even the type of partner you end up choosing in your adult life. Caregivers have one critical job: to support and protect their children. When the people who were meant to safeguard us from harm are the ones causing the harm, the impact can last a lifetime. Of these wounds, emotional neglect and physical abandonment teach a child that the people who should be protecting them, guiding them, and loving them cannot be relied upon.
If you grew up with narcissistic caregivers who were shaming, physically abusive, hyper-critical, and emotionally neglectful or physically absent, you can wrongly learn that your worth is conditional based on your parents’ moods, needs, approval, or presence. You grow up hyper-aware and constantly waiting for criticism, while living in fear of more inevitable abuse. You become a target for their