12 Common Signs of Abandonment Trauma

Absence of parental support can result in long-lasting fears of rejection.

Becky, a 35-year-old graphic designer, has always felt anxiety in her relationships, especially during periods of quiet, when she worried her partner would grow boredwith her and leave. Abandoned by her parents as a teenager after coming out as gay, she constantly fears that those she loves will leave her too. This fear manifests in her romantic relationships, so she becomes overly clingy and demands constant reassurance from her partners. Becky’s low self-esteem, stemming from her belief that she wasn’t worthy of her father’s love, causes her to doubt her worth in every relationship.

Despite her professional success, Becky struggles with chronic feelings of loneliness and emotional numbness. She finds it difficult to trust others, always anticipating betrayal or rejection. Her friends notice that she often withdraws from social activities, preferring isolation over the risk of potential abandonment. In therapy, Becky is beginning to uncover how her abandonment has shaped her in adulthood, affecting everything from her partnerships to her relationship with food and alcohol.

Abandonment from a parent constitutes a profound form of abandonment trauma, deeply affecting a child’s emotional and psychological development. This type of trauma stems from the loss of a primary attachment figure, leading to intense feelings of insecurity, worthlessness, and mistrust. The absence of parental support and nurturing during critical developmental stages can result in long-lasting fears of rejection and difficulties in forming healthy relationships later in life (Cruz et al., 2022).  Full article