| Parental alienation is the cancer of the divorce | | | | - The child does not display guilt despite acting cruelly |
| process. It eats away at the parent child bond until that | | | | towards the other parent. |
| relationship withers and dies. It is a documented fact | | | | - The child utilizes borrowed scenarios as examples, |
| that children who suffer from parental alienation are | | | | even though he or she could not have possibly |
| much more likely to suffer from depression, drug use, | | | | experience. |
| and teenage pregnancy. | | | | - Friends and family of the alienated parent also |
| Helpful divorce advice experts Dr. Barry Bricklin and Dr. | | | | experience hostility from the child. |
| Gail Elliot describe parental alienation syndrome as a | | | | - The alienating parenting claims the child does not |
| disorder that arises during times of child custody | | | | want to see the parent who is being alienated. |
| disputes. The syndrome usually involves a parent who | | | | The symptoms of parental alienation become more |
| has made a decision to launch a campaign against the | | | | and more harmful to the parent/child relationship the |
| other parent. In other words, the parent brainwashes | | | | longer the brainwashing lasts. With time, the odds of |
| the child in an effort to destroy the relationship. | | | | overcoming this harmful damage are shortened. |
| There are several signs of parental alienation. The | | | | As a parent, if you believe your child may be |
| include any of the following: | | | | experience parental alienation syndrome, it is important |
| - The child degrades the alienated parent with | | | | to education yourself on the topic. Many online |
| oppositional behavior and foul language. | | | | resources available explain what parental alienation |
| - The child provides absurd, frivolous, or otherwise | | | | syndrome is, its history, and how to fight it. The sooner |
| week reasons for displayed anger. | | | | you act to stop the harmful behavior, the easier it will |
| - The child fails to demonstrate love for the alienated | | | | be on you and your child. |
| parent and rather leans towards feelings and actions | | | | In addition, parents can find strategies developed to |
| of hate. | | | | specifically fight parental alienation. These strategies |
| - The child claims he or she came up with feelings of | | | | can be effective on children who have been |
| condemnation for the other parent. For example, | | | | manipulated or bribed by their parents. Remember, |
| saying, "no one told me to do this." | | | | parental alienation is harmful to every one involved. |
| - The child protects the parent who is alienating their | | | | Letting it fester will only complicate matters that much |
| former partner. | | | | more. |