Are Alienating Parents Pathologically Disordered?

Parental alienation is a serious issue that can deeply affect children and families.

It happens when one parent influences a child to reject the other parent, often causing emotional pain and psychological harm.

This article will examine how parental alienation connects to various psychological disorders, the behaviours of alienating parents, and practical strategies for coping with these challenges to protect children’s well-being.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then you should join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI and 1-2-1 help.

The Nature of Parental Alienation

Parental alienation can take many forms, such as speaking negatively about the other parent, restricting contact, or encouraging a child to refuse visitation.

According to a study published in the Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, around 25% of children from divorced families experience some level of parental alienation.

The impact can be significant, often leading to anxiety, depression, and future difficulties in forming healthy relationships.

Understanding why parental alienation occurs is essential.

Many alienating parents may be dealing with their own psychological struggles, which can amplify harmful behaviours.

This raises an important question: Are these parents showing signs of psychological disorders?

Are Alienating Parents Disordered Individuals?

Not every parent who engages in alienating behaviours has a psychological disorder, but many do display traits linked to mental health issues.

These include personality disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.

Alienating behaviours often stem from unresolved emotional issues, such as trauma, insecurity, or a strong need for control.

Research indicates that about 60% of parents who engage in alienation show traits of personality disorders.

This reflects how their emotional needs can overshadow the well-being of their children.

The Disorders Linked to Parental Alienation

1. Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are among the most common mental health issues connected to parental alienation.

Notably, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) frequently appear.

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Parents with NPD may resort to alienating behaviours to assert control and superiority. They may perceive their children as extensions of themselves, lacking empathy for the child's relationship with the other parent. For example, a parent may belittle the other parent in front of the child, claiming they are unworthy or incapable.

  
  

• Borderline Personality Disorder: Parents with BPD may face intense emotions and fear of abandonment, leading to unstable relationships. In the context of alienation, they might project their insecurities onto the child, encouraging rejection of the other parent. A tangible example is when a parent files for an emergency custody order, fearing that the other parent will illegally keep the child.

  
  

2. Mood Disorders

Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, can also play a role in parental alienation.

A severely depressed parent might become withdrawn, leading them to speak negatively about the child’s other parent, which can create confusion and anxiety for the child.

In situations involving bipolar disorder, parents may swing between idealising and devaluing the other parent.

This inconsistency can confuse the child and worsen the alienation experience.

3. Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can affect behaviours significantly.

For instance, a parent struggling with generalised anxiety may feel threatened by the other parent's involvement and may respond with alienating behaviours to "protect" the child.

Research shows that children of parents with anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for anxiety themselves, perpetuating a cycle of distress.

Strategies for Protecting Your Children

Navigating the challenges of parental alienation and psychological disorders requires practical strategies.

Here are some approaches to consider:

1. Seek Professional Help

Engaging a qualified mental health professional can greatly benefit both the alienating parent and the child.

For instance, therapy can help the alienating parent confront their psychological challenges while offering support to the child to process their emotions.

2. Document Everything

Keeping a detailed record of alienating behaviours can be incredibly important, especially if legal action is on the table.

Document instances of negative remarks, refusal of visitation, or manipulative behaviours.

For example, showing a consistent pattern of refusal to allow visitation can support your case in court.

3. Foster a Healthy Relationship

Encouraging a positive relationship between the child and the alienating parent can help lessen the effects of alienation.

Creating opportunities for fun interactions in a safe environment can be beneficial.

This could involve planning supervised visits or family activities that include both parents.

4. Educate Your Child

Teaching your child about parental relationships can empower them.

Have age-appropriate discussions about love and respect for both parents.

Conveying the message that both parents want what's best for them can help cultivate resilience.

5. Legal Intervention

In some cases, legal action may be necessary to protect the child's best interests.

Seeking assistance from someone at PAPA, who is familiar with parental alienation issues can help outline a plan that prioritises the child's welfare.

Moving Forward

Parental alienation poses serious threats to children and families.

Not every alienating parent is disordered, but many exhibit traits linked to psychological struggles.

Recognising these connections is key to addressing the issue and promoting healing.

By pursuing professional help, keeping thorough records, fostering healthy relationships, educating children, and considering legal steps when necessary, parents can take concrete actions to safeguard their children from the damaging effects of parental alienation.

The emotional well-being of the child should always be the primary focus as we work toward healthier family dynamics.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.