The link between mental health and love – Part 2 of 2
In the first part of this blog, we explored the consequences children face when deprived of genuine, nurturing emotional connections. Consequently, such deprivation often manifests in their behaviour, affecting their ability to form healthy social and emotional relationships with others. Moreover, children may display challenging behaviours that are misinterpreted as defiance rather than cries for affection and understanding. Similarly, we often say the children needing love most express it in the most unloving, difficult, and resistant ways imaginable. Ultimately, these patterns highlight the importance of recognising behavioural challenges as signals of unmet emotional needs requiring compassion and care.
How Childhood Neglect Shapes Adult Perceptions of Love
Unfortunately, when adults ignore these children’s needs, they internalise harmful beliefs about their own worth. Consequently, they grow into adults burdened with powerful negative thoughts and unresolved feelings about their parents. Moreover, they often project much of their unresolved pain onto the people around them. Similarly, their deep-rooted sense of being unlovable influences how they interpret others’ actions and intentions. Furthermore, these perceptions can distort even genuinely caring gestures into proof of imagined rejection or neglect.
Breaking Free from the Cycles of Unworthiness
Hence, their adult relationships frequently mirror the pain and patterns experienced during their formative years. Likewise, they may unconsciously seek situations that reinforce their belief in being undeserving of love. Additionally, positive relationships can be misinterpreted through the lens of past emotional wounds. Therefore, they remain trapped in cycles that confirm their long-held feelings of worthlessness. Ultimately, breaking this cycle requires conscious effort, support, and a willingness to challenge deeply ingrained beliefs.
How the Mind Responds to Feeling Unloved
Therefore, the mind feels worthless and quickly builds defences to avoid emotional pain. Consequently, during late adolescence to mid-adulthood, early signs of distress may appear. Moreover, we see strong worrying patterns as people struggle with inner emotional problems. Similarly, serious mental reactions may happen when coping skills fail to handle deeper hurts. Furthermore, symptoms can range from panic attacks to severe and frightening mental episodes.
Relationship Mental Health & the Impact of Feeling Unloved
Likewise, some individuals engage in self-harm as a desperate method to manage overwhelming emotional distress. Additionally, suicide may tragically result when someone feels completely without hope or possible relief from suffering. Hence, the mind instinctively works to protect itself from the unbearable experience of rejection. In contrast, it can deny or distort any situation that suggests a lack of love. Ultimately, this reveals how profoundly damaging the absence of love can be to the human psyche.
Final Thoughts on Relationship Mental Health
Therefore, it is important to remember that love can act as a powerful catalyst for healing emotional wounds and restoring trust. Consequently, therapy provides a safe space where compassionate connection nurtures growth, even when initial hope appears to have faded away. Moreover, acts of genuine care and empathy can slowly rebuild the emotional foundations necessary for deeper relationships to flourish again. Ultimately, embracing patience and openness allows love’s transformative power to guide individuals towards renewed peace, strength, and emotional resilience.
Relationship Mental Health: Written by Claire Borg
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Claire Borg is a gestalt psychotherapist at Willingness. She works with adolescents and adults. She has a special interest in mental health. She can be contacted on claire@willingness.com.mt or call us on 79291817.
