Oh Eun-young explains child's extreme terror as 'being with a kidnapper'

A recent episode captured the essence of a child's psychological distress during a deep emotional analysis. In a video from Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation's 'Oh Eun-young Report - Marriage Hell,' the psychological crisis faced by the eldest child and Dr. Oh Eun-young's expert analysis were presented.

'I have regretted getting married'

The husband expressed the immense burden of serving as the protector for the eldest child amidst unexpected shifts in the family environment. When asked if he had ever regretted marrying his wife, he replied, "I think I have," revealing that the situation was far more difficult than he had anticipated. He had hoped to be a good father and build a stable family, but as reality diverged from his expectations, he repeatedly agonized over why he had made such difficult choices and why he was forced to become a "bad person." His admission that he felt judged by those around him but had no one to turn to highlighted the heavy burden he has been enduring alone. Observing the eldest child's daily life, Oh expressed her deep heartache and sympathy.

'It is not hatred, but pure terror'

Regarding the child's behavior, the husband noted that it felt as though the child hated him. While acknowledging the husband's perception, Oh defined the child's state not as hatred, but as being "one hundred percent terrified, beyond mere fear." She explained that the child does not hate the father or the younger sibling, but is instead in a state of such extreme anxiety that they are unable to process the situation. Her analysis suggests the child feels such intense instability that they do not even know how to react when looking at their father.

To illustrate this psychological state, Oh used a striking metaphor. She explained that the child's mental state is akin to "the state of mind felt by a person who has been kidnapped and held captive for over ten years when they are with a kidnapper." She emphasized that this extreme terror does not stem from direct harm or an attack by others, but from the child's total loss of control over their own environment. Even though no one has physically harmed or attacked the child, the psychological sensation remains the same as being with a kidnapper. Oh warned that if parents fail to understand this state, they may end up feeling resentful toward the child, thinking, "After all the ways I have treated you well."\