Childhood neglect is something that affects many individuals well into their adult years. It is a form of emotional abuse that can stunt the growth of personal development, which leaves long-term consequences in the psyche of the victim.
In many cases, childhood neglect shapes the way these individuals think and act, developing habits that have become part of their coping mechanisms.
In this article, we will discuss 15 habits of people who were neglected as a child. Understanding these habits can help us become more sensitive to other people’s experiences as well as explore our own patterns that may have developed as a result of neglect.
15 Habits of Childhood Neglect
While I can’t say for sure if I was a victim of childhood neglect, I was definitely abused and deprived of love, support, and encouragement – 3 of the fundamental things children need to thrive in life.
We were raised in a completely dysfunctional, unloving home. The abuse was common, as was yelling and screaming. I’m surprised I’m as normal as I am today.
Putting Others’ Needs Before Their Own
They have learned to put other people’s needs before their own. Even if they are not doing great or feeling 100%, they will attempt to make the other person feel good and make sure they are happy.
This type of person is highly attuned to others and often seen as agreeable, helpful, and kind – people pleasers.
But people-pleasers can also have trouble standing up for themselves, which can lead to a harmful pattern of self-sacrifice or self-neglect.
Difficulty Trusting Others
The lack of parental support as a child can cause mistrust and skepticism in the minds of neglected children. They will have difficulty trusting anyone and may struggle to make deep connections.
A therapist can often help you understand your experience and develop coping strategies. With treatment, you can begin to heal the wounds of betrayal and move on with your life. An understanding partner can also help you rebuild your trust.
Overcompensation
Neglected children often develop the habit of overcompensation, where they work hard to prove themselves to others. It stems from the fear of not being wanted or appreciated.
Overcompensation happens when a person feels inferior and will go out of his way to feel superior. This leads to the person seeking power, dominance, and increased self-esteem.
This trauma response stems from the belief that to get what you need and want, you need to fight, try a lot, and sometimes overcompensate in order to provide yourself with the safety and security that you wanted to feel in your past.
Hypervigilance
As an adult who was neglected, you can develop the habit of constantly sensing signs of danger or threats as a way to protect yourself from harm. Hypervigilant behaviors are usually involuntary.
They might make you feel on edge, constantly scan your surroundings, startle easily, or have abnormal reactions to normal sounds, sights, or situations. Take regular breaks throughout the day to help manage hypervigilance.
If possible, take a few minutes each day to step away from your work or whatever you are doing and take some deep breaths.
Self-sufficiency
Children who were neglected often develop a habit of becoming self-sufficient when they become adults. They have learned to rely solely on themselves and find it challenging to ask for help.
They have developed the skills to be independent from a young age and do everything needed to survive.
A big part of self-sufficiency is knowing how much is enough. If you can reduce your material needs, you might be surprised how little you actually need.
People-pleasing
Some adults who were neglected as children develop a habit of people-pleasing or seeking validation from others. They have learned to receive affirmation and approval from others and often find it challenging to find meaning within themselves.
Usually, they’ll have the feeling of being overly concerned with pleasing others and earning their approval as a way to maintain relationships. They consistently strive to please others, often sacrificing their own wants or needs in the process.
Fear of Rejection
They will develop a fear of rejection as they have experienced it most of their lives. They tend to avoid situations that can create the possibility of rejection.
People who fear rejection may struggle with low self-esteem, lack of confidence, shame, or guilt and spend a lot of time and energy worrying about what others think of them.
They often neglect their needs or let people take advantage of them to be liked. I did this for most of my adult life.
Withdrawal
Neglected children often withdraw from social situations as they lack the social skills and confidence needed to interact with other people. They enjoy being alone and avoid social interactions because it makes them uncomfortable.
In many cases, withdrawal is linked to fear, anxiety, depression, rejection, poor self-esteem, and dysfunctional family dynamics. Social withdrawal has the potential to lead to loneliness and isolation.
Independence
People who are extremely independent, seeking solitary activities or hobbies to help give them a sense of purpose, usually suffered from childhood neglect.
Children whose parents or caregivers were absent, inconsistently available, or unable to meet their emotional needs grow up believing that people are ultimately unreliable and that they can only rely on themselves.
They need to work through their trust issues. Taking time to work through trust issues is essential, as is accepting help from others.
Emotional Suppression
These people will often develop the habit of suppressing their emotions or expressing themselves in an unhealthy way. They have learned to control their emotions early on by hiding them, which is an unhealthy coping mechanism.
Some people believe that by not acknowledging their emotions, they can shield themselves from potential hurt or pain. Additionally, individuals may suppress their emotions due to societal expectations – meaning, society is programmed not to share emotions and feelings and to either deal with it yourself or speak to a professional.
Poor Self-worth
Victims of childhood neglect often develop a sense of poor self-worth as they may not have ever experienced affection, care, or praise. This lack of validation can lead to permanent self-esteem issues.
These are ingrained beliefs a person has about themselves.
People who struggle with low self-esteem are consistently afraid of making mistakes or letting other people down. Be kind to them, try to stay positive, and surround them with a support network to help them get through this.
Avoiding Attachment
They tend to avoid attachment or deep connections as they fear too much attachment will cause them pain. This attachment style can also develop if parents are emotionally unavailable or withdrawn.
People with avoidant attachment styles might have difficulty asking for help or expressing emotion. You can provide a safe space for an avoidant person by listening to them when they open up rather than responding defensively.
Self-blame
An adult that was neglected in childhood will often blame themselves for their lack of nurturance, affection, or support, believing that they did something wrong to deserve it.
The direction of blame often has implications for individuals’ emotions and behaviors during and following stressful situations.
Difficulty With Intimate Relationships
If a person were neglected as a child, they would often experience problems with intimate relationships, often withdrawing from physical or emotional intimacy or struggling to communicate their own needs and emotions.
Because of their avoidant attachment style, they will struggle with finding a partner who can accept their issues and will need a very supportive partner and support network to help them get through it.
Difficulty With Self-expression
Neglected children tend to struggle with self-expression as they often internalize their emotions and are unable to articulate them to others.
When we don’t express ourselves, we repress important parts of who we are and cause ourselves considerable struggle and lasting mental and emotional pain.
Our frustration turns to rage. Our isolation turns to depression. Our restlessness turns to panic.
final thoughts on childhood neglect habits
Childhood neglect can leave a long-lasting impact on an individual, creating bad habits that shape the way they think and behave. The habits of those who were neglected as children are often an attempt to cope with a lack of nurture, affection, and support.
Understanding these habits can help individuals become more sensitive to other people’s experiences. It is essential to remember that it is never too late to seek help, and resources are available for recovery and healing.
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