How Ignoring Parental Alienation Harms Children and Empowers Abusers.

Parental alienation is a pressing issue that affects many families today.

It happens when one parent manipulates a child into rejecting the other parent, which can lead to significant emotional and psychological harm.

Despite how common it is, many individuals choose to stay silent—often out of fear or a desire to avoid conflict.

This silence can have dire effects on children and serves to empower those who engage in alienation.

In this article, we will examine the perils of ignoring parental alienation and emphasise why it is vital for everyone to speak out and protect children.

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, support sessions and 1-2-1 help.

Understanding Parental Alienation

Parental alienation isn't just a term; it describes a damaging type of emotional abuse that can leave lasting scars on children.

This behaviour often shows up in negative ways, such as the alienating parent criticising the other parent in front of the child or creating fictitious stories about that parent.

Children, who find themselves torn between parents, may feel confused, guilty, or angry, resulting in a fractured relationship with the targeted parent.

The impacts of parental alienation can be severe.

Research indicates that 30% of children in high-conflict divorce cases experience emotional and psychological distress.

They may suffer from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

These feelings may arise as children struggle with divided loyalties, leading to difficulties in fostering healthy relationships as adults.

The Consequences of Silence

Remaining silent about parental alienation inadvertently supports a culture that accepts this harmful behaviour.

Silence can manifest in various ways, such as not standing up for the targeted parent, ignoring signs of alienation, or brushing it off as a private family issue.

The repercussions of this silence can be significant:

Empowering the Abuser

Ignoring issues of parental alienation allows the abuser to continue their detrimental actions unchecked.

They may take this silence as a sign that their manipulation is acceptable.

This validation can further alienate the child from the targeted parent, deepening the emotional harm inflicted upon them.

Normalising Abuse

Silence can unintentionally normalise behaviours tied to parental alienation.

When society doesn’t address this emotional abuse, it implies that such treatment is okay.

This societal acceptance can lead to a rise in parental alienation cases, as individuals might feel encouraged to act without fear of being called out.

Isolating the Victim

When people choose to be silent, the targeted parent often feels alone and unsupported.

This lack of backing can exacerbate their emotional distress and hinder their ability to combat the alienation.

Over time, the targeted parent may feel increasingly hopeless, making it harder for them to fight for their rights and their child's well-being.

The Importance of Vigilance and Advocacy

To effectively address parental alienation, it is essential for everyone to remain observant and speak out.

Here are simple ways we can advocate for change:

Educate Yourself and Others

Knowledge is the first step in tackling parental alienation.

By learning about its dynamics, you can help raise awareness within your community.

Share resources, articles, and personal experiences to illustrate the effects of parental alienation and inform others.

At PAPA we have an extensive range of resources and articles on parental alienation and the relevant dynamics.

Speak Up

If you witness acts of parental alienation, don’t stay silent.

Reach out to the targeted parent and offer your support.

Your intervention can be crucial in breaking the cycle of abuse.

Engage in open discussions about the issue and challenge any dismissive attitudes you come across.

Supporting the PAPA 'Protect and Serve' campaign is vital.

The Role of Mental Health Professionals

Mental health professionals can significantly support those affected by parental alienation.

Here are some ways they can help:

Providing Therapy

Therapeutic services can be invaluable for children facing parental alienation.

A qualified therapist can assist the child in processing their feelings, develop coping strategies, and work toward healing their relationship with the alienated parent.

Therapy can also provide support for the targeted parent, helping them manage their emotional turmoil and develop effective action plans.

Educating Parents

Mental health professionals can educate parents about parental alienation dynamics.

By supplying essential information on recognising signs and responding appropriately, they empower parents to advocate for their children's well-being.

The Impact on Children

The outcomes associated with parental alienation are serious and can be long-lasting.

Here’s what can happen:

Emotional Distress

Children who undergo parental alienation often face emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and overwhelming guilt.

Struggling to understand their feelings towards both parents can lead to confusion and internal conflict.

Relationship Issues

The trauma stemming from parental alienation can impede a child’s ability to build healthy future relationships.

This may affect their capacity for trust, intimacy, and effective communication in friendships and romantic connections.

Academic Challenges

Stress caused by parental alienation can drain a child's energy and focus, negatively impacting their academic performance.

Issues like increased absenteeism and decreased motivation can often be traced back to the emotional strain of navigating a fractured family dynamic.

Taking Action Together for Change

Parental alienation is a serious issue that demands our attention and action.

Choosing silence only empowers the abuser and perpetuates cycles of harm.

It is crucial for all of us to be attentive and vocal on this issue, advocating for the well-being of children while supporting the targeted parents.

By staying informed, speaking out, and demanding change, we can foster a community that prioritises children's safety and emotional health.

Let's work together to break the silence surrounding parental alienation and ensure no child has to endure the consequences in silence.

Together, we can make a difference.

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.