Psychologists talked about the impact of toxic parenting on children's brains
Childhood traumas and the experience of toxic parenting can have a lasting impact on a person's psyche, behavior, and physical health in adulthood, forming lasting changes in the perception of oneself and others, as well as increasing the level of anxiety and stress response. All the details are in the Izvestia article.
Mechanisms of influence on the psyche
Alexandra Grazhdanov, a psychologist in the AST (Acceptance and Responsibility Therapy) approach, notes that toxic parenting refers to a set of behaviors such as emotional neglect, constant criticism, humiliation, and manipulation. When such patterns repeat over the years, they become embedded in the child's psyche, forming the so-called inner critic. This leads to the fact that even in adulthood, a person continues to evaluate himself in parental categories, is afraid to take the initiative and explains his successes by chance.
In addition, early relationships with parents determine basic trust in the world. If adults were unpredictable or rejecting, it becomes difficult for a person to feel secure in a relationship. Some may become anxious and jealous, fearing that they will be abandoned, while others begin to avoid emotional intimacy, perceiving addiction as a threat. Often, people unconsciously reproduce familiar patterns, once again finding themselves next to controlling partners.
The effect of stress on the brain
According to Dmitry Yagudin, founder and head of the D.R. Yagudin International Neurouniversity, Doctor of Psychology, childhood traumatic experiences, including abuse at an early age, can cause long-term changes in the structure and functioning of the brain.
"Trauma, such as childhood abuse, rebuilds the brain. The hippocampus, the memory keeper, shrinks by 12%, and the amygdala, the threat detector, increases by 20%, creating a hyper—vigilance system," Yagudin said.
Traumatic experiences also manifest themselves through disruptions in the hormonal and immune systems. In adults, this can result in chronic stress, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases. According to Yagudin, anxious parents increase a child's cortisol levels, which can lead to psychosomatic illnesses and temporary loss of the ability to perceive information.
Recovery methods and therapy
Despite the severity of the consequences, childhood experiences are not the final verdict. The citizen emphasizes that the brain has neuroplasticity and is able to form new patterns of relationships.
"Thanks to this, a person is able to reconsider their deep beliefs about themselves, can learn to build healthy boundaries, reduce the influence of internal criticism and create safer relationships with themselves and others," explained Citizens.
Cognitive behavioral approach and neurodynamic recovery, which works directly with the body and mind, are considered the most effective in the treatment of traumatic disorders. Yagudin adds that in cases of severe anxiety or depression, medical support may be required as a support for subsequent therapy. An important task of the work is to rewire the memory in order to connect the memories not with danger, but with the experience.
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