what is cen

CEN stands for Childhood Emotional Neglect, which occurs when a childs emotional needs are not met enough of the time. It is a form of trauma that can be difficult to identify because there arent any physical signs of abuse. CEN can occur in all types of families, and its about whats missing--the emotions that didnt get recognized, understood or addressed. It doesnt mean that parents didnt love their kids or even that a person had a bad childhood if they experienced CEN. CEN means that from an early age, a persons emotional needs went unmet. These unmet emotional needs may have included learning about feelings and how to cope with emotions that are difficult, getting hugs or pats on the back, being praised for an accomplishment or job well done, or even having boundaries set around healthy relationships and self-care. CEN can have lasting effects on a persons self-esteem and relationships. However, it is possible to recover from CEN by becoming aware of how parents failing to respond to feelings as a child impacts on current mood and relationships.