Emotional Abandonment

You may have had parents or caregivers who were not emotionally present and available for you. Though possibly not intended, this behavior has said to you that you are not important, and your needs have been overlooked. It is often subtle, ongoing, and not talked about. Often times we cope with being abandonment emotionally by those we love most, by hiding a part of who we are in order to protect ourselves from further hurt and disappointment.

 

Forms of emotional abandonment includes:

• Growing up in an alcoholic home/ addicted parents

• Deeply loving someone who is active in addiction

• Absent parents

• Perfectionistic parents / unrealistic expectations

• Highly controlling parents

• Enmeshment with parents

• Having a caregiver who is depressed or mentally ill

• Having a parent physically abandon you

• Witnessing parents in an acrimonious divorce