Growing up with a nurturing parent builds confidence and security, but children raised by emotionally abusive mothers often carry invisible wounds into adulthood. Emotional abuse—through criticism, manipulation, neglect, or withdrawal of affection—can quietly shape a child’s development, affecting self-worth, stress responses, and mental health.
Because it leaves no physical marks, it often goes unrecognized until years later, when struggles with trust, anxiety, or relationships reveal the deeper impact. Emotional abuse teaches children that their feelings don’t matter, and breaking free from that belief is an essential step toward healing.