How to Heal from Emotional Abuse as a Child

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, making the adversities children face and how to heal from them an extremely relevant and significant topic to shed light on. The impact of emotional abuse on child development is substantial, both short and long-term. It is essential to pay attention to and work through emotional abuse among children as soon as possible. Not sure where to begin? We’ve put together a guide on how to heal from trauma to help those working through it get started. Read on to learn more about how to help children recover from emotional abuse in any area of their lives.

What Is Emotional Abuse?

The first step to healing this type of trauma is understanding what exactly emotional abuse is and how it occurs. When we are aware of all of the ways it can exist, we can better understand it, pinpoint it, and help our children work through the distress. You must know what to look for in a dangerous situation to know when and how to report abuse.

In simple terms, emotional abuse refers to any words or actions that seek to damage one’s self-worth, self-image, self-confidence, or mental wellness.

Here are a few common examples that fall under the category of emotional abuse:

• Verbal abuse includes name-calling, yelling, and insulting someone.
• Neglect and rejection are about dismissing and not tending to needs, thoughts, or opinions.
• Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation used against individuals to make their sense of reality seem invalid.
• Isolation tactics are about control over a person to the extent that they cannot have or build a social circle outside of the emotionally abusive relationship.

Emotional abuse can exist in any combination of the examples listed above and more. It is important to note that some may be more deceitful and subtle, while others may be very prominent and direct. However, regardless of the degree to which it is present, it is important to heal with the following steps.

Ways To Heal Emotional Abuse

When considering how to heal from emotional abuse, the following steps can each make a significant difference, especially in child development.

Create a Safe Talking Space

One of the first steps to help your child overcome the effects of emotional abuse is to give them a safe space to express their feelings and emotions. Let your child know that you are there to listen to them and their feelings, and you will not judge them based on what they tell you or how they feel.

Another way to foster a safe talking space is to open up to them about your own experiences, as long as they are age-appropriate for your child. For example, explain a time when you felt dismissed or bullied by someone and how you overcame that experience.

It is important to remember that creating a safe space takes time and a secure level of built-up trust within the relationship. Let your child open up to you on their own without putting too much pressure on them. This will allow them to feel safer in the space you create when discussing difficult emotional wounds.

Have Your Child Write Out Their Feelings

Next time you are at a bookstore or an art supply store, pick up a small journal for your child to write out how they are feeling. Journaling has been proven to be a great outlet for emotional distress and can act as a safe space for your child.

Here are a few prompts to get your child started if they are not sure where to begin:

• How are you feeling? Explain.
• What was the best part of your week? What was the worst part of your week? Why?
• What are some things that make you feel good? What are a few things that hurt your feelings? Explain.

Let your child know that the journal is theirs to write whatever they want, and it is not to be read by anybody other than them unless they decide to share it with someone.

Consider Therapy

Another great option for helping your child heal from an emotionally abusive relationship is setting them up with a therapist. Professionals tend to have a deeper understanding and can offer additional ways to help, whether it is group or individual therapy. Several are available for children 0-21 at All For Kids. As an organization that works towards child abuse prevention, we offer many tools and resources to help your child overcome any emotional barrier in their life.

With therapy, your child can gain the additional support they need outside of the home so that they can feel safe and secure when they rest their head every night.

Healing From Emotional Abuse as an Adult

Lastly, healing from emotional abuse as an adult is just as important as it is for a child. If you or someone you know has been a victim at any point in life, the steps listed above can help you work through that trauma as well. In doing so, you will begin to heal from the emotional distress and break any generational cycles that may unintentionally present themselves in future relationships or when you become a parent.

Help Is Here

There is no better time to help your child heal from a toxic relationship than now, whether you decide to take the healing process into your own hands, set them up with a professional, or a combination of the two. Additionally, acknowledging your own emotional abuse traumas and beginning to work through them yourself is equally as important when it comes to breaking any repetitive cycles in your family. The sooner your child feels the support they need, the sooner they can work through the trauma and set themselves up for a healthy life.