Impact of Parental Emotional Abuse on Adulthood

IMPACT OF PARENTAL EMOTIONAL ABUSE ON ADULTHOODThis book represents years of professional work with counselees from across cultures, economic, social, and spiritual backgrounds. The vignettes and events are based on actual situations, which the counsellor experienced in her work. Most of the data comes from direct sessions of personal, first-hand encounter from a combination of divorcees, singles, mothers, and people who have had multiple failed romantic relationships. Those relationships brought them pain, anguish, anger, and disappointments. There are successful adult professionals who are living in emotional pain as a result of parental emotional abuses. Many will not admit to the distress but their actions, attitudes, and behaviours communicate to the onlooker that something is wrong. Emotional hurts begin in childhood; the time when the child is impressive and most vulnerable. It is during this period he or she is making sense of the world, love, relationship with parents and siblings, and understanding the complexities and involvement of socialization. This is the stage when trust and personality begin to emerge in order to interact and relate to others. If the child receives mixed messages from parents in terms of the way they respond to other siblings with care and respect, but he or she is severely punished for violations, these are the events, which will remain in the psyche and will most certainly affect the emotions. Unless something happens to change attitudes and understanding of socialization concerning parental responses, any negative belief will become fixated and continue towards adulthood. One of the main fixations is emotional paralysis after a very painful event, which was not resolved.Childhood is the time when children are supposed to be carefree, happy, impressionable, and trusting; they absorb love as the trees absorb carbon dioxide. They love the charms and mystic moments, which seem so magical and delightful. They are captivated by the wonders of life and its enigma, which make them inquisitive leaving them fearless; and for some, invincible as they take risks without thought for consequences. Parental Emotional Abuse: Its Impact on Adulthood is timely for two reasons: to help those persons who have been hiding behind those hurts while hurting others; and to let the emotionally damaged know that the neglect of their parents does not mean that everyone will be as unkind. Nevertheless, there are adults trapped in that emotional tunnel who generalize by introducing similar behaviours to their own children, or as professionals hurt their subordinates with offensive hostilities and antagonisms.The emotionally aggrieved individual was maltreated, wronged, injured, and victimized by a parent; but he or she does not have to remain confined to a life of despair. There is hope and it begins with taking charge.__________________Dr. Stuart is an Ordained Minister, Christian Educator, and Licensed Pastoral Counsellor. She is Founder...