A major theme of the third chakra is personal will. It is the centre of willpower which merges the instinctual direction of the higher chakras with the lower chakras to spark physical creation through action. In young children, development relies on a healthy balance between safe exploration of their surroundings and self-discipline. This encourages the development of confidence and a healthy ego as they take risks and are met with new challenges head on.  As children mature out of this phase, they will rely on their sense of identity and self-esteem from this part of their life as they exert themselves out in the world.

As children go through the development phase of their solar plexus chakra, they are learning about authority through their caretaker. They have a newfound sense of independence as they walk through their environment, but quickly learn that there is a standard for behaviours that are and aren’t acceptable.  Traumas or abuse to the third energy centre can stem from the overexertion of power from their caretakers as they may (or may not) intentionally try to create an obedient child.

I delve further into this below–here are six traumas and abuses that would compromise the development of the third chakra:

1. Overuse of Authority (Overpower)
   The overt use of punishment is forcing a child to endure something painful which against their natural instincts. This creates a psychological split where the child begins to believe they are “bad” and learns to distrust their own feelings and instincts. As well, a child’s relationship with their caretakers highly influences their own inner sense of authority: if a parent models tyrannical behaviour, the child may either stay overly submissive or become equally authoritarian.
2. Excessive Discipline
   Any method that manipulates behaviour to get a desired action (especially through force) fosters fear, which is the shadow of the first chakra.  Strict expectations alongside a punishment by an authority fundamentally takes away any sense of Self and only results with forcing the other into submission.  This is detrimental as the ego is being developed; children are learning to respond as they have an innate desire to live up to expectations and comply. Excessive discipline can leave the third chakra stunted as the only thing it enforces is making the other person feel scared, weak and inadequate.
3. Relational Trauma (Parentification)
   Parentification, where a child is forced to take on adult responsibilities and care for family members, can be classified as abusive because it disrupts the child’s natural development, causing emotional and psychological harm by placing undue stress and burden on them. The harm primarily lies in the inappropriateness of expecting a child to fulfill such a role, as they are inherently inadequate to handle the adult responsibilities. As they struggle and inevitably fail to meet the unrealistic expectations, their self-concept suffers, leading to long-term issues with self-esteem and identity.
4. Overstimulation or Severe understimulation
   A young child’s nervous system isn’t equipped to handle overstimulation–at a young age it actually can cause emotional and psychological harm by overwhelming their ability to process sensory input. It can put them at risk for becoming hypersensitive adults and lead them to deal with long-term issues of situational anxiety and/or sensory overload. Conversely, severe understimulation is equally damaging; if a child lacks basic interactions such as playing with toys, touch, or regular experiences, they may only feel energized in extreme situations of excessive stimulation. This can result in them feeling drained and empty during quieter times, misinterpreting periods of calm as isolation.
5. Constant Shaming
   Shaming can be classified as abusive because it fundamentally damages a child’s self-worth, causing emotional and psychological harm by making them believe and feel as if it were their fault. This occurs because the shame attached to their actions or emotions promotes a belief that they are indeed “bad” and encourages the subconscious program that they are unworthy. Often, shaming is perpetuated by parents or authority figures who are overly critical, and consistently undermine the child’s confidence. Additionally, in cases of generational trauma, a parent’s own unresolved shame can be imprinted onto the child, perpetuating a cycle of low self-esteem and emotional distress.
6. Breaking Personal Will (Relates to Authority)
   Breaking the will of a child can be classified as a parent exerting excessive control, leaving the child with no autonomy or ability to make choices of their own. In this dynamic, the child is discouraged from demonstrating any will to choose, voice objections, or express conflicting views, and is met with shame when they act out. The oppressive control inhibits the child’s ability to develop their own sense of self, as their natural impulses and desires are consistently being suppressed. In the parent’s desperation for obedience, they inadvertently shut down the child’s third chakra, forcing the child to suppress their resentment and stifling their personal growth and self-expression.