Uncovering Facets Of Mental Child Abuse

It is said that if you carry your childhood with you, you never become older. But what if, one of the happiest stages of your life was filled with negative emotions of abuse? Parents always want their kids to make the finest choice. But what if in the course of fulfilling their parent’s aspirations, the child forgets about his desires? Physical abuse is not the only kind of child abuse. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse can inflict just as much damage and since they are not always as obvious and overt, others are less likely to intervene. Regardless of the abuse, the result will always be emotional and mental harm. Such trauma in childhood can reflect in the child's future relationships as it leaves deep, long-lasting scars on the child's mind.

The movie Tamasha is the best example of this concept. While fulfilling his parents' dream, Ranbir Kapoor accepts an ordinary 9-5 job in a corporate company neglecting the creative side he never knew he had. This type of mental abuse might go unnoticed at times since it is covertly present in intangible forms. Our parents are one of the first elements of primary socialization in our life and hence it is difficult in our following years to go against their choices. Following the ideals of our parents is a good thing but we have to be careful not to lose our individuality in that course.

Some children facing mental abuse go through immense psychological pressure. They often push themselves to achieve goals they are least interested in. They might not have the aptitude or required potential for the career path their parents have chosen for them. This results in poor performance and leads to a lack of motivation and focus. All this pressure kills the child’s individuality. He/she might fall into the traps of a mediocre and ordinary life while he/she was meant to do something bigger and different.
Parents need to understand their child’s inherent nature and potential. They need to stop projecting their unfulfilled dreams in their child. In this journey, the role of the parent is to support their child and believe in their capabilities without imposing any pressure or influence.
A child will be the happiest when given the freedom to carve out his life path.

By: Lehar Tanwani

Content: https://abuserefuge.org/pf/physiological-abuse/