Verbal abuse in childhood has devastating impact on adult brain

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• Posted On August 29, 2025

“Words once spoken cannot be taken back. So, think before you speak!”

We all have probably come across this idiom during those moral education lessons at school. But how many of us actually follow this?

A few to none, to be honest! And unfortunately, verbal abuse in childhood, which is often dismissed by parents as ‘disciplining,’ can cause some really deep and long-lasting emotional scars in children.

In fact, verbal abuse is like a silent killer that can quietly, but deeply, shape a child’s neurological wiring! Surely, the wound won’t be visible like in the case of a physical injury, but the impact it would have can take a toll on a child’s mental and emotional health for a lifetime.

The Psychological Impact of Verbal Abuse

You might think that physical abuse is the harshest form of abuse that can cause serious injuries to a child.

However, you will be surprised to know that verbal abuse can be more damaging by nature! A parent’s harsh words can leave a mark on a child’s developing brain. Over time, it can even change a child’s brain structure. How so?

Well, let’s take a simple instance. Supposedly, a child faces constant criticism and yelling from his/ her parents. Now, this can make the child experience a state of constant stress. What’s worse about this thing is, it can severely affect the growth of areas in the brain that are linked to emotion and memory. Slowly, the child’s brain would learn to be on high alert all the time. This survival mechanism can even persist into adulthood and sculpt a person whose mental and emotional well-being is devastated.

The psychological impact of verbal abuse in children can also lead to a negative self-image. A kid may start to believe that they are worthless and don’t deserve to be loved. Such deeply rooted beliefs can actually affect all their relationships and shape how they see themselves and the world around them.

A BMJ Study on the Effects of Verbal Abuse on Children

Now, let’s take a look at a real-world instance to understand how verbal abuse can impact the mental and emotional well-being of children.

According to studies published in the BMJ Open, researchers revealed some shocking results when they examined data from over 20,687 participants from seven different studies conducted between 2012- 2024.

The study, which used the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale for measuring the individual and combined components of mental well-being in adults, clearly showed that childhood verbal abuse had direct links to poor mental health in adults. It proved that children who suffered verbal abuse experienced anxiety and depression in their later years.

The study also showed that these children were more prone to engage in self-harm. Not just that, but the analysis of the results also portrayed a grave concern. While physical abuse in childhood increased the likelihood of low mental wellbeing in adults by about 52%, childhood verbal abuse showed an even higher correlation with a 64% increased likelihood! These percentages effectively highlight the devastating impacts of words on a child’s developing mind.

What Kind of Risky Behaviors Do Verbally Abused Children Get Exposed to as Adults?

You may think that the effects of childhood verbal abuse disappear in adulthood. But, it’s just the contrary! Adults who were verbally abused as children often face significant challenges, which make it difficult for them to cope with their daily life issues.

More often than not, these adults struggle with low self-esteem. Added to that, they also might develop severe trust issues, which can make it difficult for them to form healthy relationships.

Not just that, but many adults also engage in self-destructive behaviors. They might turn to substance abuse or addiction. Along with that, some may even exhibit long-term effects of abuse by seeking validation. They might be overly eager to please people, which could make them vulnerable to exploitation.

What’s worse is, a person who experienced emotional abuse by parents has a high chance of repeating the same patterns. They may have a hard time parenting their own children. Also, they might struggle to express their emotions in a healthy way. This can lead to a cycle of never-ending anger and frustration, which might lead to chronic depression in the long run.

What’s the Solution?

Well, there are solutions, but those aren’t easy. To break this cycle, it requires a fundamental shift in how we as parents discipline our children.

So, rather than verbally or physically abusing a child, parents can communicate clearly and calmly. They can explain to the kid why their behavior was wrong. The focus should be on discouraging the behavior, not the child!

For instance, instead of saying ‘You are absolutely worthless,’ or ‘how come you have become a good-for-nothing,’ parents can try saying ‘That was not a good thing that you did, and not a good choice that you made.’ Choices give children a sense of control, which eventually helps them build self-worth and confidence.

Always remember that children learn from what we set as examples in front of them, not what we preach to them! So, instead of resorting to psychological abuse, parents should teach them about healthy communication and emotional control.

Important Note: As parents, you are allowed to feel exhausted and drained owing to the stresses that you have to go through daily. However, despite that, you must be careful of how you behave with your child! And if you feel that you’ve too much on your mind, try these simple yet effective hacks to relax, so that you don’t take out your part of frustrations on the child.

Some Final Words

Verbal abuse leaves a scar, which can at times be ten times deeper and more powerful than a physical injury. And since children are sensitive, the long-term impact of bullying can negatively affect a child’s self-worth.

The hidden wounds of childhood verbal abuse are often the deepest. Therefore, it’s high time that we, as parents, acknowledge the severity of the damage. And the first step that we need to take is dismissing the notion that verbal abuse is harmless. We need to create a safe environment for our children so that they can grow without carrying the burden of emotional scars.

It’s our collective responsibility to protect our children’s emotional health. And since words have the power to create, disrupt, and heal, we should learn to use our words to build up, not to discourage our kids!

Do you have more information and solutions about such sensitive things that eventually lead to devastating mental health? If yes, then we would love to hear from you! Just send us your articles under our write for us health and wellness category, and join our community today!

F.A.Qs

1. How does verbal abuse affect the brain?

Verbal abuse can severely affect a child’s overall brain development and cause constant stress. This makes it harder for them to handle their mental or emotional states in the long run.

2. How does childhood trauma affect the brain in adulthood?

Childhood trauma, whether physical or verbal, can devastate an adult’s mental and emotional well-being. Trauma can overly activate the brain’s fear center and weaken decision-making abilities. This can lead to higher levels of anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and impulsive behavior as adults.

3. How to deal with someone who verbally attacks you?

One of the most effective ways to deal with a verbal attack is to set and maintain firm boundaries. You can strongly state that their behavior is unacceptable and that you will not engage with them while they speak to you that way.

4. What are the symptoms of brain damage from abuse?

Some common signs of brain damage from abuse may include a lack of concentration, memory problems, or difficulty with emotional regulation. Other than that, mood swings, anxiety, depression, or an inability to control impulses are also some of the symptoms of brain damage from verbal abuse.

Eliza Gordon

Eliza Gordon is a seasoned writer for the health industry dedicated to providing fact-based health information. She sources concise facts from authoritative sources to ensure maximum credibility and shares guidelines to lead a healthy lifestyle.