Toxic parents verbally and emotionally abuse their children.
They impose high expectations and excessive demands and behave in ways that cause guilt, fear, or obligation in their children.
Having a bad day does not make one a bad parent.
Unlike normal parenting behavior, toxic parenting involves patterns of behavior that have a negative impact on child development.
The most common toxic behavior of parents is to criticize their child, express self-wishes, complain about the difficulties of raising a child, make unhealthy comparisons, and make hurtful statements.
These kinds of comments can cause permanent damage to the social, psychological, and emotional growth of a child.
Table of Contents
Below, are some of the most common toxic statements made by toxic parents.
Body shaming can have adverse emotional effects, including lowered self-esteem and the development of mental health struggles such as eating disorders, body image disturbance, body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety, and depression.
In the long run, poor self-esteem and insecurity will prevent them from building and maintaining healthy relationships.
A child’s anxiety negatively influences their perception of themselves and the world.
Frequent criticism from parents is linked to the development of anxious children.
Parental rejection can also lead to self-criticism and depression.
Low self-esteem can result from being compared and seen as inferior to others.
As a result of not being valued, esteemed, wanted, desired, chosen, and accepted by their parents, children experience lower self-perceptions and self-worth.
Parents’ differential treatment of siblings can also cause sibling rivalry.
Toxic parents are cruel, harsh, and critical. As a result of their psychological abuse, children feel incompetent, creating a sense of inadequacy and a sense of self that is not worthy of support.
The feeling of shame can lead to an overly self-conscious child, making it challenging for them to build and maintain future relationships.
Research also shows that these awful childhood experiences may lead to various physical illnesses, substance abuse, mental health disorders, and suicide attempts.
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Disclaimer: The content of this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical concerns.
Parenting For Brain is a website offering science-based parenting advice. It empowers parents with easy-to-understand parenting information and evidence-based guidance. Parenting For Brain was founded by Pamela Li in 2017. Pamela is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief. She specializes in various aspects of science-based parenting, including pregnancy, parenting styles, child development, child psychology, and childhood trauma.
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