You don’t have to be hit, screamed at, or abandoned to grow up with deep emotional wounds. Sometimes the most lasting pain comes from parents who smiled on the outside — but couldn’t truly see, hold, or care for who you were.

Dr. Lindsay Gibson is a clinical psychologist and the author of five books, including the bestselling Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents. Her work has helped put a name to the pain so many of us spent years minimizing or couldn’t quite explain.

🔑 Key takeaways from this episode:

• What emotionally immature parenting looks like—and how it hides in “normal” families and high-functioning dysfunction.
• How conditional love and emotional reactivity lead to chronic self-doubt and fear of authentic connection.
• What parentification is—and how being your parent’s emotional support blurs the line between love and survival.
• The invisible wounds of emotional neglect: never feeling seen, soothed, or safe—despite having “everything you needed.”
• Why some adult children blame themselves and seek healing, while others deflect, deny, and avoid accountability.

⬇️DAMN THE JOIN SHITSHOW - ADULT CHILD HEALING COMMUNITY⬇️

https://theshitshow.mn.co

• 4 weekly zoom support groups (Sun 3: 30 pm EST, Mon 8:30 pm EST, Tues 1 pm EST, & Thurs 8:30 pm EST)
• Support community at your fingertips with discussion boards and chat

SIGN UP FOR SHITSHOW NATION - ADULT CHILD NEWSLETTER

👩HELP A GIRL & CAT EAT🐱  

www.buymeacoffee.com/adultchild

🛍️SHITSHOW MERCH🛍️

www.adultchildpodcast.com/shop

🎙️NEW TO THE POD🎙️

How I learned I was an Adult Child - The Tale of 2 Brians

THE LAUNDRY LIST - Common Characteristics of an Adult Child

Follow Andrea on social

www.instagram.com/adultchildpod

www.tiktok.com/@adultchildpod

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code ADULTCHILD for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com
* Check out PharmaNutra and use my code ADULTCHILD for a great deal: https://pharmanutra-us.com


Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy