I think one of the worst forms of child abuse is injecting them with a terminal sense of guilt. parents who constantly use guilt as a disciplinary tactic end up raising children who are unable and afraid to stand up for themselves. they are taught that their needs are unimportant, that theyāre selfish for trying to individuate, and that they donāt really matter. they essentially begin to look at themselves as a burden, as something to be tolerated instead of loved - how cruel is it to make a person feel apologetic for their own existence?
the worst part is that since the abuse isnāt āactivelyā vicious, itās difficult to identify it. when a person is raised on guilt, they have difficulty establishing boundaries, and they have difficulty developing themselves spiritually. as such, theyāre more likely to become victims of further abuse in their adulthood. when something bad happens to them, they assume they deserved it.
itās the people who apologize for everything, itās the people who deprive themselves of things that are good for them, itās the people who end up isolating themselves from others because they feel inherently damaged.
guilt is a poison and the only antidote is compassion
