Can You Get PTSD from Neglect? The Pain No One Talks About

Can Neglect Really Cause PTSD?

When people think of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), they usually imagine soldiers returning from war or survivors of violent events. But what about neglect? Can being ignored, emotionally abandoned, or left to fend for yourself cause the same deep psychological wounds?

Honestly, I used to think PTSD was only caused by extreme, life-threatening situations. But after talking to a friend who grew up feeling invisible in his own home, I started wondering: What if the absence of care is just as traumatic as an act of violence?

The answer? Yes, neglect can absolutely lead to PTSD. And the worst part? Many people don’t even realize that’s what they’re dealing with.

Let’s break it down.

1. What Is PTSD and How Does It Relate to Neglect?

PTSD Isn’t Just About "Big" Traumas

PTSD happens when the brain struggles to process a distressing experience. It’s not just about what happens to you—it’s about how your nervous system reacts to it.

When someone experiences chronic neglect, especially in childhood, their brain registers it as a life-threatening experience. Why? Because as kids, we rely on caregivers to meet our basic needs—emotionally and physically. If those needs aren’t met, the brain stays in survival mode.

How Neglect Triggers PTSD Symptoms

Neglect can create the same neurological and emotional responses as other traumatic experiences, leading to:

• Hypervigilance – Always being on edge, scanning for signs of rejection.
• Emotional numbness – Feeling detached from others or yourself.
• Flashbacks – Reliving painful moments of being ignored, dismissed, or unseen.
• Avoidance – Struggling to open up or form deep relationships.

It’s not just "being sad about the past." It’s your brain rewiring itself for survival, even when the danger is gone.

2. The Different Types of Neglect That Can Lead to PTSD

1. Emotional Neglect (The Silent Wound)

"They didn’t hit me, but they never hugged me either."

This type of neglect happens when a caregiver fails to provide emotional support—no affection, no encouragement, no validation.

Signs it may have affected you:

• You struggle to express or even identify your emotions.
• You feel like your feelings don’t matter to others.
• You constantly doubt whether you’re lovable or important.

Emotional neglect is one of the hardest traumas to recognize because there’s no obvious wound. But the damage? It’s deep.

2. Physical Neglect (When Basic Needs Are Ignored)

"I had to take care of myself because no one else did."

Physical neglect happens when basic survival needs—food, shelter, medical care—are unmet. It can make a person feel unsafe in their own body and the world.

Signs it may have affected you:

• You feel a deep sense of insecurity, even when things are "fine" now.
• You have trouble trusting that others will take care of you.
• You struggle with self-care because no one ever taught you how.

3. Social Neglect (Feeling Like You Never Belonged)

"No one ever noticed when I was struggling."

This can happen in families where a child is ignored, ostracized, or made to feel like a burden. It can also happen in school, relationships, or workplaces where someone is repeatedly excluded.

Signs it may have affected you:

• You feel invisible, even in groups of people.
• You assume others don’t really care about you.
• You fear rejection so much that you avoid deep connections.

3. PTSD from Neglect vs. PTSD from Other Traumas

The symptoms can be similar, but there’s one big difference:

• PTSD from a single traumatic event (like an accident or assault) is often linked to one specific memory.
• PTSD from neglect and childhood trauma is usually complex PTSD (C-PTSD)—a long-term pattern of emotional pain, not just one moment.

C-PTSD tends to affect:
Self-worth ("I’m not good enough.")
Relationships ("I can’t trust anyone.")
Emotional regulation ("I don’t even know how I feel.")

4. How to Heal from PTSD Caused by Neglect

Healing is possible—but it takes time and self-compassion.

1. Recognize That Your Pain Is Real

Neglect survivors often gaslight themselves: "It wasn’t that bad… other people had it worse."
But trauma isn’t a competition. If it hurt you, it matters.

2. Rewire Your Nervous System

Since neglect teaches the brain to stay in survival mode, healing means teaching it to feel safe again.

• Try somatic therapy (body-based healing like yoga or EMDR).
• Learn grounding techniques to calm anxiety.
• Practice self-care as if you were taking care of your younger self.

3. Build Healthy Relationships

It’s hard to trust people when you were taught that no one would be there for you.

• Start with small steps—one safe person, one honest conversation.
• Work on setting boundaries so you feel more in control.
• Remind yourself: You deserve love, just as much as anyone else.

4. Therapy Can Help (If You’re Ready)

If PTSD from neglect is affecting your life, therapy can be life-changing.

• Trauma-informed therapy (like EMDR) can help process old wounds.
• Inner child work can help you nurture the parts of you that were neglected.

It’s not about "just getting over it." It’s about giving yourself what you never got.

Final Thoughts: Yes, Neglect Can Cause PTSD

If you’ve ever wondered "Why do I feel this way?", or if you’ve struggled with trust, self-worth, or emotional numbness—you’re not broken.

Neglect is trauma. And like all trauma, it can be healed.

You weren’t crazy for needing love. You weren’t weak for wanting support. And if no one told you this before: You deserved so much more.

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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

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Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

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