By: Katie Honeywell, LPC

EMDRIA Consultant

Emotional neglect often goes unnoticed and can have a significant impact on an individual's mental health. This can be a form of abuse, but can also exist with well-intentioned caregivers who lack necessary skills. It occurs when a person's emotional needs are consistently not met, often leading to feelings of vigilance, loneliness, and inadequacy. Let’s dig a little deeper into the impact of emotional neglect on mental health and the importance of addressing this issue to promote overall well-being. 

Neglect can have long-lasting effects on an individual's health. It can lead to a range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, complex trauma, and difficulties forming healthy relationships. 

Examples of emotional neglect:

• A child who grows up in a household where emotional needs are consistently ignored, dismissed, or gaslighted.
• The absence of feeling, naming, and support in navigating the...