Specific Problems of Children Suffering
from the Effects of PAS (Lowenstein, 2007)

1. Anger is a common reaction of children to the alienated process. Children who are forced to reject the TP and side with the AIP suffer considerable distress and frustration and respond with aggressive behaviour towards the TP to accommodate the programmer.

2. Loss or lack of impulse control in conduct. PAS children often engage in delinquent behaviour.

3. Loss of self confidence and self-esteem. Losing one parent through PAS results in lack of self confidence and self-esteem.

4. Clinging and separation anxiety. Children, especially very young children, who have been programmed to hate or disdain one parent will tend to cling to the AIP. The AIP induces considerable anxiety induced in the child against the TP, by suggesting to the child that the TP will carry out a number of negative actions in the child.

5. Developing fears and phobias. PAS children often fear being abandoned or rejected now that they have been induced to feel that the TP is less than desirable. Sometimes this results the fear of attending school (school phobia) due to fear of leaving the AIP who claims to be their sole beneficial carer. Such children perceive the AIP as the good parent and fear what will happen in the future, especially in terms of the AIP (now the only remaining parent) dying and leaving the child bereft of support.

6. Depression and suicidal ideation. Some children who are unhappy with the break up of their parent's relationship are further faced with animosity between the AIP and the TP, the two main adults in the child's life. This leads to uncertainty and unhappiness with some children attempting suicide.

7. Sleep disorder is a symptom that sometimes follows the alienation process. Children often dream and find it difficult to sleep due to their worries about the danger of the AIP and the guilt they feel as a result of participating in the alienation process.

8. Eating disorders. It has been noted that children caught up in the alienation process suffer from eating disorders, such as, anorexia nervosa, obesity and bulimia.

9. Educational problems. PAS children burdened and pressured into rejecting one parent frequently suffer from school dysfunctions and can be disruptive and aggressive within that system.

10. Enuresis and encopresis. Due to the pressure and psychological disturbance of losing one parent, a number of PAS children, especially young children will suffer from bed wetting and soiling as a result.

11. Drug abuse and self-destructive behaviour are common in children who have suffered from parental alienation. This occurs due to the desire to escape from feelings of abuse and the loss of one parent. In extreme case the self-destructive behaviour can lead to suicidal tendencies.

12. Obsessive-compulsive behaviour. PAS children often seek to find security in their environment by adopting obsessive compulsive behaviour patterns.

13. Anxiety and panic attacks also are common in PAS children. This may be reflected through psycho-somatic disorders such as nightmares.

14. Damaged sexual identity problems. As a result of the alienation process, some children may fail to identify with one member of the originally secure relationship leading to sexual identity problems.

15. Poor peer relationships arise as PAS children are often withdrawn in their behaviour or behave aggressively towards others.

16. Excessive feelings of guilt. PAS children, especially when older, often suffer from excessive guilt feelings due to the knowledge that in reality the TP has done nothing wrong to deserve the child's rejection and behaviour.