Jan 23 2024 49 mins
Healing from “Childhood Emotional Neglect” (CEN)
Childhood Emotional Neglect (as a child or teen) results in emotional disconnect and lack of emotional intelligence.
In a marriage, one or both spouses may need healing from CEN
Spouses who need healing will often exhibit these 10 characteristics…
- Misread each other's feelings.
- Avoid discussing difficult topics to avoid conflict.
- Be unable to argue productively.
- Focus on logistics rather than feelings.
- Not confide in each other.
- React inappropriately if the other confides.
- Not feel like a team.
- Feel alone even with their spouse.
- Have difficulty finding topics to discuss.
- Feel awkward experiencing positive emotions like love, or only feel them during sex.
When children are emotionally neglected:
Children raised with emotional neglect:
- Don't know how to express their emotions and don’t feel comfortable expressing their emotions (because they were not asked questions such as “How are you?,” “Are you sad?,” etc.).
- Don't learn how to recognize and discuss emotions (others or their own)
- Hide their emotions and may not be aware of them.
- Do not understand themselves or their own needs or feelings (or others).