ABSTRACT
Childhood experiences of the past can have a destructive effect on the present. The inner child in each person is the core of the personality that has been molded by the directions on how to act to be loved that the person receives in childhood. Painful experiences and lack of nurturing in dysfunctional families wound the inner child and contaminate adult experiences. Many persons with eating disorders have a wounded or neglected inner child that affects their adult lives. Characteristically, they demonstrate problems with trust, intimacy, addictive and compulsive behaviors, and codependence among others. Healing the inner child by grieving neglected childhood developmental needs is a long process, but one that improves the quality of one's life. Nurses, depending on their educational background and clinical skills, can help clients move toward understanding and healing the wounded, neglected inner child of the past.
