If you recently divorced, it is going to take some time to readjust to life as you once knew it. This adjustment period may be easier or harder depending on unique factors. In some extreme cases, one spouse may not adjust at all.
In these situations, you could end up dealing with unique and painful issues like parental alienation.
Damage from abuse
Healthline discusses the impact of parental alienation on your child. Most courts classify parental alienation as a form of child psychological abuse. In parental alienation, the alienating parent will use any trick in the book to destroy the relationship between their co-parent and child. They often turn to manipulative tactics like gaslighting.
Needless to say, this can cause your child long and short term damage. In the short term, children of parental abuse may feel insecure and doubt their own opinions and sense of self. They may harbor guilt for how they treated the alienated parent. They may suffer from confusion and a conflict of principles. Many turn to self-blame to alleviate the stress of rejecting a parent they once loved.
Long term insecurities and issues
In the long term, children who suffered from parental alienation claim that it contributed to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Many also develop poor coping mechanisms in early years, which can lead to addictions in the future. A vast majority also claim to have issues when it comes to forming bonds and relationships. Trust is hard to earn and maintain and they often sabotage their own connections.
These problems persist well into adulthood, too. For this reason, catching parental alienation early is often a crucial step.