Abandonment and Neglect

Abandonment issues stem from a deep-rooted fear of being rejected, hurt, or abandoned. Caused by many factors which can include childhood trauma such as abuse, neglect, death of a parent, incarceration of a parent, illness or divorce, abandonment issues can have significant effects on people in their adult relationships.8 Common Signs of Abandonment IssuesBecause abandonment issues are caused by many different factors, they will manifest differently in different individuals. There are, however, some common signs of abandonment issues one can look out for:Intense fear of rejection. Having abandonment issues means one is afraid of being rejected or left alone. This is because they have experienced it before due to childhood traumas and they try not to feel that way again. This fear however can hinder how they relate to others and in turn manifest that which they fear.Very low self-esteem. Those with abandonment issues will have very low regard for themselves. They constantly feel worthless and not worthy of love and acceptance. This is why they are constantly seeking approval or reassurance. They never feel what they are or who they are is enough.Avoidance behavior. For fear of being rejected, those with abandonment issues will forego situations where they feel they might be rejected. This can be seen in how they avoid social gatherings, family meetings, or company activities. They feel safer by avoiding it.Needy and clingy. Once they are in a relationship or friendship with someone, people with abandonment issues can become very needy and clingy, emotionally suffocating those close to them. They fear being alone so much that they will make sure they are constantly in the presence of their partner or friend. This can again have the negative effect of driving people away.Codependency. Codependency is the excessive dependence on another person for assurance, well-being, and identity. To [...]