PAS and the Affects on the Targeted/Alienated Parent

PAS and the Affects on the Targeted/Alienated Parent

Parental Alienation is a devastating form of psychological abuse.  We know that it wreaks havoc for the children.  But what about the Targeted/Alienated Parent (TP)?  How does all of this affect them?

For years we have talked about the psychological trauma and damages that children of high conflict divorce must endure when one parent deliberately impedes their relationship with their other loving parent.  The statistics, signs and symptoms are well documented.  From emotional problems, to substance abuse problems, to anger and low-self-esteem, children of high conflict divorce are damaged by the psychological abuse of Parental Alienation.   But what about the Alienated/Targeted Parent.  This parent is being berated, ignored, defamed, slandered and had the most horrific things said about them, must try to stand up strong against all this anger, hatred and rage.

On top of this, the targeted parent is often barraged with legal proceeding after legal proceeding in courts that do not understand the problem.  The TP often suffers something called LAS or Legal Abuse Syndrome according Dr. Karin Huffer.  Dr. Huffer states that LAS is a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is not a mental illness but more like psychological abuse that is inflicted upon the person causing them emotional pain, suffering and confusion. She believes that LAS stems from corrupt or poorly managed court situations that perpetrate and destroy another person with false allegations, abuses by the courts or vexatious litigations that are filed in the courts.   In other words it is basically, “psychic injury, not a mental illness. It is a personal injury that develops in individuals assaulted by ethical violations, legal abuses, betrayals, and fraud. And it is the abuse of power and authority and a profound lack of accountability in our courts, which compound an already stressful experience.”

The targeted parent becomes as wounded emotionally as the children.  They are forced to endure endless living deaths of their children who are still alive but dead to them, and thus never have closure.  This is abuse is then compounded by financial damages and worse, corrupt/unknowledgeable courts that do not appropriately handle these type cases.

Unfortunately, much more research needs to be done in this area.  If you are interested in being involved in the research and study of the affects of PAS on the Targeted Parent, please contact, me at PASIntervention@aol.com.  Please put Targeted Parent Research in the subject line.