If a Child Rejects Contact with a Parent

If a child rejects contact with one of the parents, the reason is likely the negative influence of the other parent. This is known in international legal practice as "parental alienation" and implies the immediate intervention of the state:Alienation of a child from one parent is one of the most common issues in family law in Armenia, complicated by complex relationships.

🔒Parental alienation is often covert and difficult to prove, as it involves psychological manipulations that are invisible but have a deep and irreversible impact on the child's development, as well as on the relationship between the child and the parent.

‼️SCIENTIFICALLY ESTABLISHED CONSEQUENCES:                                           
✅️An alienated child often feels internal conflict due to rejecting one parent and remaining "loyal" to the other. This can lead to anxiety, chronic stress, or depression.
✅️The child notices that their peers often have the support or involvement of both parents, while they have lost contact with one parent. This can create a feeling of being "different" or "less than." Thus, the alienated child, often comparing themselves to peers, faces acute self-esteem issues in adulthood, which is one of the long-term consequences of parental alienation.
✅️A child influenced by a manipulative parent may later regret their behavior towards the alienated parent and the severed connection, which can lead to self-blame throughout their adult life.
✅️Alienation can affect the child's future relationships, causing trust issues, a tendency to avoid conflicts, or difficulties in building a family.
✅️Long-term alienation may increase the risk of personality disorders, addictions, or other mental health issues for the child.

‼️WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS ALIENATED FROM YOU
✅️Do not sever the connection with the child, but rather take informed, non-harmful measures to restore and strengthen the interrupted connection.
✅️In case of facing the issue of alienation, immediately consult a family law attorney specialized in this area, who will skillfully gather admissible and relevant evidence revealing the alienating behavior of the parent, and then initiate legal proceedings to limit the harmful parent's parental rights using this evidence:
April 25 is recognized worldwide as Parental Alienation Awareness Day.
The day aims to:
➡️Educate the public about the harmful effects of parental alienation that can lead to psychological issues for the child, such as anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem.
➡️Encourage families, professionals, and judicial systems to recognize the signs of alienation and intervene promptly to protect the relationships between the child and the parent,
➡️Emphasize the importance of the child having healthy relationships with both parents, contributing to family harmony.