If you feel you or someone you know might have been emotionally neglected as a child, please watch this video. Child abuse doesn’t always leave marks and bruises but instead makes you grow up with invisible scars. Even if this kind of abuse doesn’t show on the outside, it can impact your whole life, even after you’re long gone from your childhood home. This kind of abuse is called childhood emotional neglect, a dark place where a child is ignored, not taken seriously, told their feelings don’t matter, and treated like they’re not even there.

Because this form of abuse is often unrecognized and unreported, it could be difficult to spot the signs. This can be confusing when you grow up with emotional problems, and you’re left wondering why am I like this? So, we made this video to help you find more clarity about what you're going through now.

Writer: Stela Kosic

Script Editor: Isadora Ho

Script Manager: Kelly Soong

Voice: Amanda Silvera (www.youtube.com/amandasilvera)

Animator: Sun Biscuit

YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

If you relate to this video, we have also left a list of hotlines below you or a loved one can use to seek help for abuse.

Resources:

National Child Abuse Hotline (US and Canada): 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)

National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233)

TTY: 800-787-3224

Video Phone for Deaf Callers: 206-518-9361

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)

TTY: 800-799-4TTY (800-799-4889)

Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741 (US and Canada) or 85258 (UK)

National Runaway Switchboard: 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929)

References:

Aust, S., Alkan Härtwig, E., Heuser, I., & Bajbouj, M. (2013). The role of early emotional neglect in alexithymia. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 5, 225–232.

Cikanavicius, D. (2018, May 14). 5 Ways Childhood Neglect and Trauma Skews Our Self-Esteem. Psych Central. psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-self/2018/05/childhood-self-esteem#6

Li, M. P. S. (2022, April 28). Childhood Emotional Neglect – 37 Signs, Effects and How To Overcome. Parenting For Brain. www.parentingforbrain.com/childhood-emotional-neglect/

Müller, L. E., Bertsch, K., Bülau, K., Herpertz, S. C., & Buchheim, A. (2019). Emotional neglect in childhood shapes social dysfunctioning in adults by influencing the oxytocin and the attachment system: Results from a population-based study. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 136, 73–80. doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.05.011

Stoneson, A. (2021, November 17). What makes a people pleaser? Labyrinth Healing LLC. labyrinthhealing.com/blog/what-makes-a-people-pleaser