Invisible Wounds: How Emotional Neglect Shapes Mental Health [Video]

In this video, psychotherapist Maddie McAllister explores emotional neglect. Emotional neglect is a form of childhood neglect that occurs when a caregiver fails to meet a child’s emotional needs. Unlike physical abuse, emotional neglect is characterized by what doesn’t happen. This can appear in many ways, like ignoring a child’s emotions, being overly critical, or showing favoritism among siblings. These experiences send the message that a child’s feelings don’t matter, which can deeply impact emotional development and lead to long-term effects that persist into adulthood.

Learn more about the impacts of trauma.

As adults, those who experienced emotional neglect may struggle with low self-esteem, difficulty trusting others, emotional regulation challenges, and self-blame or emptiness. However, healing is possible with the right support, and therapy is a powerful tool for recovery. Approaches like AEDP, EMDR, group therapy, and family therapy can help individuals rebuild emotional awareness, self-compassion, and trust. Healing from emotional neglect takes time, but with patience and the right environment, people can learn to meet their own emotional needs and build fulfilling, connected lives.