Divorce is a tricky situation to be in. After the process ends, it is natural for involved parties to take a long time to settle into a new routine. This is true even for couples who divorce under amiable circumstances.
For strained and painful contested divorces, this is even more true. Unfortunately, some ex-partners can take things to an extreme due to their lingering bitter emotions. This can result in issues like parental alienation.
Causes of parental alienation
The Psychiatric Times looks into parental alienation and its impact on families. Parental alienation occurs when one parent – the alienating parent – decides to interfere in your relationship with your child. You – the alienated parent – act as a target for the alienating parent’s ire. They will often do anything in their power to damage or destroy the bond between you and your child. In fact, some tactics are so brutal that courts sometimes categorize parental alienation as a form of child abuse.
Signs of parental alienation
Signs of parental alienation often appear suddenly while being very obvious. For example, a child that previously enjoyed spending time with you may suddenly develop an aversion to doing so. They may want nothing to do with you, resent you and say cruel things about you. They may also parrot information they had no way of knowing unless your ex-spouse told them. In some cases, they may accuse you of things you never did.
It is important to act fast when these signs show. Consider contacting an attorney if you notice anything amiss with your child. The sooner you do, the sooner you can potentially act to stop it.
