Abandonment Issues and Neglect

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. – 2 Deuteronomy 31:8

Connection is a hardwired human need. An often overlooked form of abuse is abandonment or neglect. Although neglect may not cause physical wounds, it can alter behaviors and impact relationships. Abandonment can cause a severe fear of rejection, damage self-esteem, and bring about a host of other long-term insecurities.

Fortunately, you don’t have to stay stuck in your fear of abandonment. At Culver City Christian Counseling, we work to help you find the strength to move forward in life without fear of neglect. Your faith-based counselor will provide a safe environment for you to share your struggles and process the effects that abandonment and neglect have had on your life.

Your road to healing begins here. Browse our counselor directory or call us at (949) 386-7179 to set up your initial risk-free appointment.

Abandonment can be real or perceived, emotional or physical. Abandonment and neglect usually fall into three main categories depending on age – childhood, adult, and senior neglect.

Child neglect happens when a child’s needs are withheld, not adequately provided by the legal guardian. Some examples of childhood abandonment or neglect include (but are not limited to):

Abandonment for adults takes many forms. The most common forms of abandonment are marital abandonment and senior-dependent neglect. Both physical and emotional abandonment are prevalent in these situations. When a spouse withholds communication, intimacy, or emotional support it can be considered neglect. Physical abandonment occurs if a spouse leaves the marriage without justification and refuses to fulfill his responsibilities in the marriage.

Some examples of marital neglect or abandonment include (but are not limited to):

Similar to childhood neglect, senior-dependent neglect happens when the things necessary for the senior’s health and safety are not provided or not adequately provided.

Some examples of senior-dependent neglect include (but are not limited to):

If you have suffered some sort of abandonment or neglect, please know that you are not alone. You may have been overlooked your entire life, but the counselors at Culver City Christian Counseling want to connect with you. In our counseling environment, you will have a safe place to grief, process what’s been done to you, and begin to heal from those deep wounds.

It can be difficult to pinpoint what issues are a result of pain from neglect or abandonment. People with the pain of abandonment were usually deserted by someone they trusted. As a result, they have learned to create boundaries, rely on themselves and struggle to maintain healthy relationships.

Effects of childhood neglect or abandonment issues include:

Culver City Christian Counseling has a team of licensed family counselors with experience and skill at providing therapy for children. If you believe your child has suffered from abandonment or neglect, counseling is a safe place to sort through the damaging effects.

Although most abandonment or neglect occurs in childhood, it’s common that people don’t deal with the effects until adulthood.

Adult symptoms of abandonment or neglect issues may include:

Effects of abandonment and neglect are similar across ages. However, marital or senior neglect may also include the following symptoms:

If the effects of abandonment and neglect are left to fester, relationships will continue to crumble. It can become too complicated to maintain healthy relationships with loved ones. Many people with a deep fear of abandonment find it challenging to trust that God will not leave them.

Jesus Christ said to His disciples in Matthew 28:20b, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Scripture also reminds us, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Even if you have been abandoned by earthly friends or family, know that God has not abandoned you or forgotten about you. You can cling to the cross, where our hope is found in Jesus Christ. If you’ve experienced abandonment or neglect, Culver City Christian Counseling invites you to partner with a counselor to work through any hurts, obstacles or setbacks in your life. We believe your hope can be restored and healing found.