You may also go out of your way to please your partner to fill the void left by your father, which can lead to you being taken advantage of and feeling unfulfilled. 8. Distancing from others Receiving love and acceptance from a father is important for developing a child’s self-esteem. If your father was overly critical or absent, you might feel less than your peers because you believe your father’s harsh behavior is your fault. This can lead to low self-esteem and various related consequences, such as poor performance at school or work and the belief that you are not worthy. 2. Mental health problems

Not feeling a sense of love and affection from your father can lead you to seek these things out wherever you can find them as an adult. You may become overly promiscuous because you’re yearning for some form of love. The longer you hold on to unforgiveness, the longer the pain will control your life. They say holding onto unforgiveness/bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. You have not only the opportunity, but also the privilege of coming before God. The maker of heaven and earth, who knows every star by name, and has the hairs of your head numbered. His love for you is immeasurable.

Relationship to our birth father

Father wound symptoms can lead to unhealthy relationships as an adult. You may accept abusive behavior from your partners because this is the type of behavior you expected from your father. Fathers, your role in the lives of your children and spouse is more important than you may have ever realized. Your words and your very presence create mental, spiritual, emotional, and even genetic change. If your father were physically abusive, you’d come to accept this sort of behavior. As an adult, you may end up in relationships in which your partner is abusive or physically violent. Even if abuse or violence is wrong, it feels comforting because it’s the only thing you know. Related Reading: What Is Hostile Aggressive Parenting & It’s Impact on Children 2. One-sided relationships

Take the Course: Healing the Father Wound to Stop Self-Sabotage 5 Steps Toward Healing Our Childhood Wounds 1. Identify the Wound It may seem overwhelming to think about every individual wound your father caused. Instead, think about the injustices he caused in general. Was he never around? Did he criticize you frequently? Did he fail to recognize your achievements?You could also have a father wound if your father didn’t protect you from your mother’s abuse — or vice versa. “One can have a mother and/or father wound [from the parent who did not protect you] from the parent who is causing the wounding,” says Parker. “So one can sustain a wound from both parents.” Even the slightest seed of neglect can blossom into a tree that casts as shadow over every area of your child’s life. It may not manifest today. It may not manifest tomorrow, but eventually the wound will fester.