Your Childhood is Running Your Nervous System! Part 1of 3
Updated: Oct 5, 2019
Most people assume that child maltreatment is overt abuse BUT absent, distant or detached parenting... "is associated with a wider range of damage than active abuse, but it receives less attention in policy and practice.
Science tells us that young children who experience significantly limited caregiver RESPONSIVENESS may sustain a range of adverse physical and mental health consequences that actually produce more widespread developmental impairments than overt physical abuse."
These can include:
disruptions of the body’s physiological stress response and stress hormones.
delays or stunting of brain and physical development, executive thinking, self-soothing and self-regulation.
"Neglect accounts for 78% of all child maltreatment cases nationwide, far more than physical abuse (17%), sexual abuse (9%), and psychological abuse (8%) combined."
Despite these compelling findings, child neglect receives far less public attention than either physical abuse or sexual exploitation and a lower proportion of mental health services.”
Click to read part 2.
Click to watch video: The Science of Neglect
Quoted source: Harvard developing child center