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It's not unusual to have a more or less complicated relationship with your parents. After all, they're human just like you, navigating the same complex feelings and emotions. However, there's a line between familial disagreement and toxic behavior. And Reddit user snoofle-science wanted to find it.

So they made a post on the platform, asking its users to share what signs have they noticed indicate that their moms and dads were lousy caregivers. From not being able to show affection to desperate attention cravings, here are some of the most popular problems that people attribute to their upbringing.

#1

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents You feel intimidated by everyone around you, you feel like you're never good enough for anyone, no matter how much they tell you that you don't need to try so hard, and you generally have low self-worth.

Edit: Wow. I don't know whether to feel encouraged that so many people know where I’m coming from with this, or heartbroken about it. Either way, thank you, everyone.

mR-gray42 , Anubhav Saxena Report

#2

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents A second chance to do it better when you have kids. Every time I got angry or upset with my own children, I would take a breath and think about what my mom would do—and then do the exact opposite. Lots of laughter and forgiveness in our house and zero violence. My mantra has always been “there is value in a bad example.”

Slow-Distribution119 , Ilya Pavlov Report

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Magpie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well done!!!! I admire and respect your courage and sanity.

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#3

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Doing everything yourself, not asking for help, because you knew no help was coming.

nch1307 , frank mckenna Report

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Magpie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was shocked reading a re-imagined story about Cinderella " other kids knew they could ask any adult for help - and get it, not Rella ". My sister and I were both kind of Cinderella.

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#4

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Never believing a compliment. Always being anxious that people are mad at you/ignoring you if they're being quiet/not responding. Not being able to deal with confrontation/conflict in a constructive/healthy way.

Basically you get shitty people skills and emotional damage.

nisharfa , Joice Kelly Report

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Rylosalex
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. Whenever someone told me that I did a good job on something I would instantly think "Did I really do a good job? or is she/he just feeling sorry for me?"

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#5

Over-explain the tiniest issues because of a compulsive need to justify every thought, action or inaction

darermave Report

#6

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents You can't identify your own emotions immediately, or sometimes at all, but can identify others without them having to say a word. Don't know how to react to things in the moment, and are extremely mature for your age. Mature kids often aren't a result of great parenting.

Louminous19 , Arwan Sutanto Report

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a fruity dream of delusion
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i cannot say enough how true this is. i’ve wondered why i am always so uncomfortable if i am unable to read someone, and this really explains it.

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#7

I had to sneak out of the house through my bedroom window to go to school and take my finals because my mom locked my room from the outside. This was punishment because I wouldn’t do the dishes because I was cramming for my exams. To top it off after she locked me in my room she went to the breaker and turned off the lights to my bedroom so I wouldn’t have any lighting to study and I had to spend the whole night studying with a flashlight.

I aced all my exams. And instead of my mother being proud of me she locked me up in my room for a week for sneaking out.

I ended up going to college and grad school in STEM and made something of myself. And now she brags to people that I am successful because of her. When she says that I tell her and everyone “absolutely not! I’m successful DESPITE her”.

Witty_Goose_7724 Report

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weewoo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh i am so happy for this person. they managd to get good grades with bad parents? now thats a great achievment

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#8

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents The panicked rush to jump and start “doing something” when you hear someone come in the house. Lest you be subjected to a barrage of insults and commands.

sadhandjobs , Volha Flaxeco Report

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Kristi Savage Cook
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG this! Heaven forbid I'd be resting while nobody was home to see or comment....

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#9

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Why is nobody mentioning the silent foot steps?

When you grow up with parents that will yell at you for existing you develop the ability to hide your presence as much as possible and always try to keep your noise and visibility to a minimum.

xaxiwan102 , Jake Hills Report

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weewoo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and you also leanr whos steps are whos when they are walking up and down the stairs.

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Kristi Savage Cook
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm still quiet-stepping up my carpeted stairs at 50+ years old. It's crazy how trying to be "invisible" can actually make you feel invisible for so long after childhood ends. I cut them out of my life decades ago, yet I still try to occupy the smallest space my body can fit. Shhhhhh.

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had multiple hiding spots in every room in the house! Fortunately I was a very small, thin child (to the point of emaciation) and I was able to fit into all kinds of hiding spots. My "favorite" spot, the one I saved for "the worst times", was the bottom cabinet of one of those TV stand things that have built-in cabinets.

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2x4b523p
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Decades later I still startle people because of this, they never notice I entered the room until I start talking to them, they say I walk like a ghost. I had a roommate who half-jokingly insisted I put a bell on my neck because I almost gave her heart attack always just appearing next to her. On the other hand I can always tell who is coming up the stairs even though they are carpeted and do not creak. It’s so ingrained it had become an instinct. And I still get goosebumps when someone’s steps sound like my father’s.

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Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this to my wife all...the...time... Not even trying to. She suggested a bell as well.

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Mike D
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to learn to walk with gliding steps, so my Dad didn't yell at me for walking too loudly, or for dragging my feet. I had to learn to pee quietly, so he didn't yell at me for making him listen to it. I had to learn to breathe in quick, shallow breaths, because he would yell at me for breathing too loudly/obnoxiously. - On that last one, it turned out I had multiple deviations in my septum that impaired my breathing by up to 60%, and made my nose whistle. Given that he was the one hitting me, the busted up nose was probably on him too. He still thinks he was an amazing father.

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Tracey Newman
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I walk pretty much silently and frequently make people jump unintentionally. I had never considered this could be why.

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Mia-Francesca Sambataro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still walk delicately around even at 37 in my own home alone, but trying to break the habit by stretching my arches more. I'd be so scared when I was younger. These threads are nice reminders of not feeling alone.

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Mike D
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same age as you, and I'm still trying to retrain my walk. I went with the "feet delicately gliding just over the surface of the floor" method, and it's genuinely painful to walk that way. I trip A LOT lol. I've learned it helps to practice outside, so you have room to get going and work on doing it without thinking. Helps me, maybe it'll help you. Glad to not feel so alone on this, either. My wife really doesn't understand, and that's okay cause it means her parents did better, but it makes it hard to talk to her about.

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Lynn H
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This hits me hard. My kid had to learn to walk again and now she's a very loud walker and I tell her she needs to learn to walk quietly but I wasn't sure why. Logically, I can't see why it's an issue. After reading this, it's really my younger self worried about it. Worried we'll get in trouble. I'm going to make sure she knows she can walk however she wants and I will never again say anything about the sound. I appreciate this a lot.

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Fester Sixonesixonethree
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...and then you get criticized for not "joining the conversation" - even though everyone will talk over you anyway.

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jme
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Living as a ghost, I'm careful about shutting doors, setting down a glass of water, clinking dishes, knowing where all the creaks in the floor are. Silence is safe sometimes

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Kristina Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I became a ninja growing up. My mother was a manic extrovert and I'm an introvert. I became very good at disappearing into the house for days at a time to avoid her.

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Nancy Kim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed my son was raised opposite of my childhood he sounds like a stampede of rhinos in our house I LOVE IT.

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sara fulmer
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Roll your feet when you walk, it's better than tip toes, stay against the wall on the stairs, they creak less. Oh yea.....

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m.w.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah... Melting into the environment and trying not to inconvenience anyone by winding yourself into a pretzel if need be are the next steps.

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BoredLardoa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I registered just to comment on this one, that is how much it affected me. Like others in the comments I need to talk about a parent's footsteps. I grew up in an apartment where the kitchen was on the other side of my bedroom wall. Even when I was a 30+ adult visiting my parents, the sound of my mother's footsteps on her way out of the kitchen would cause me fear. Not anxiety. FEAR. Both my parents recently died. Dear friends are helping me empty the place, but guess what I feel when I hear footsteps on that one meter of flooring?

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Mike D
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Won't be long, and you'll never have to hear it again. It's over now 🙂

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Denise Lewis
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 54 and still do this i scare the c**p out of my husband, all the time. because you can't hear me coming. as a matter of fact it happened today. the house i grew up in it was best to be invisible.

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Ashley Jernigan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For me again these are accurate about the treatment I receive from my husband.

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Cara G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grew up in a split level home with a half staircase that led to my bedroom. Keep your feet as far to the sides of the stairs for optimal noise reduction and thus, conflict avoidance.

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Alana Voeks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tend to accidently scare people with this. Not like I need to be quiet so much anymore, they just actively ignore me

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HollyHobby
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this by walking on tiptoes - still do it sometimes 🤓

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Bobby
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm trying not to give my kids a complex, but I can not stand a slammed door. That's the only noise they regularly make around the house that I can't tolerate. I blame my submariner days when chiefs drive it into my head that slammed doors kill people(in their defense that is potentially true on a submarine)

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Katt Davis
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't realize this was a thing, but it makes sense. I had really bad hypothyroidism and had to sneak food because I was so hungry I couldn't sleep and my step grandmother would yell if she caught me because I ate two plates at dinner before she cut me off, not wanting me to gain weight. I gained several eating disorders because of her, and even when I ate I wouldn't gain anything. My dad, when talking about the scar from my surgery, mentions that I could eat an entire box of cereal in one sitting and not gain an ounce.

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Hakitosama
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I jumpscare all my friends because of that... to the point that I now have to CONSCIOUSLY make noise when walking to then...

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Peeka_Mimi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom would get nasty with me for coughing or crying when I was sick. I remember I was 8 or 9 and had rhe flu and got yelled at for crying. I was in pain. Give me some Tylenol, Jesus.

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Bonny Saxon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went to high school in a class of 200 and most of them don't know who I am.

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Angela Jester
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haven't seen anyone mention learning to be a chameleon and quickly adapting to situations and people to blend in or be acceptable

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Hime
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the ability to know who that person is that just came in behind you based on how they breath, walk, or something they carry like a keychain that clanks.

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Kantami Blossom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do that out of habit but my parents weren't toxic, it's more that I don't want people noticing me so I don't have to put up with them.o

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Tess Helms
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I literally have scared so many people so many times a few times I scared the same person over and over again 😅 and have been told I need a cow bell 🤣🤷‍♀️

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Dorothy Stovall
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always done this too. Mom always came out of her room yelling that I was "thumping," so I learned to walk without sound.

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GlamPilot
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“Children should be seen and not heard” nope. My children knew how to behave. But they were definitely seen and heard and respected. Especially in their own home.

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Ryan Frundles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I picked up on this ability, but through force of constantly staying up way too late online. If anything, I got under punished too

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Sadie Ash
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I STILL walk on my toes at 30. I'm married, in my own home, with my own kids, and I can't walk like a normal person at home or elsewhere. I've never ever yelled at my kids for walking normally, but by may parents standards, they'd be stomping and being loud AF.

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Caroline Starr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Husband, elephant Older son, ninja Younger son, baby elephant Daughter, clicky ankles Me, also at the ninja end.

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Asif
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TBH, I wish most parents would teach their kids to keep their noise and visibility to a minimum.

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Tamra
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why? Children are curious, emotion-filled beings who have a whole world to explore and learn from. They aren't props in a movie set, meant to be shuffled from one quiet spot to the next. Good manners should be taught, yes, absolutely, but your comment sounds like the kind of old-school parenting that causes a lot of the problems this post is talking about.

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#10

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Emotional numbness especially in the face of bad things. Once you've seen enough shit certain things just don't faze you anymore

UnhappyField102 , - - Report

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SparkleFarts
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And not knowing how to comfort someone. Like I know I should feel something, but I just don't.

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#11

Okay lets do it -

self doubt, self esteem issues and overall not feeling good enough or feeling like you have an intense obligation or expectation to fulfil to keep your parents happy.

The inability to know what you want or not knowing how to say no when someone asks something of you in fear they will react poorly.

Inability to be assertive and telling people what you are/aren't ok with.

Not having high values of yourself and putting everyone else before you.

Feeling guilt the minute you 'let someone down.'

TRIGGER WORDS - example 'I'm disappointed'

Having a habit of toxic and repetitive relationships with friends and partners. Also switching around friend groups often or having little to none.

Feeling emotionally inept or being extremely emotional and feeling like you cannot express it.

Difficulty with maintaining life skills, self care, hygiene, finances ect

feeling like a child stuck in an adults body

anon Report

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#12

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents You apologize for everything you do, good or bad.

JBLBEBthree , Arif Riyanto Report

#13

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Paranoia when people are just being nice. Like why are you being friendly? What do I have that you want from me?

chilifavela , Fernando @cferdophotography Report

#14

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Being a people-pleaser to the point of it being detrimental to yourself

Wips_and_Chains , Ryoji Iwata Report

#15

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents being really good at hiding things (physical or mental). being able to sneak something to my room, being able to look like i haven't cried even though i was five minutes ago.

soggy-sleeves , bady abbas Report

#16

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Being afraid that you'll continue the cycle and treat your kids terribly

EnialisHolimion , Kelli McClintock Report

#17

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents You are in your 40s and still crave attention and validation from anyone at all because you were ignored all the time.

JBLBEBthree , Alex Blăjan Report

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Lakota Wolf
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

::raises hand:: I'm 40 right now and I still have "the class clown" personality because at least if people are laughing at me, they're paying attention to me, right? Right?!

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#18

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents When i tell stories of my childhood that i think are funny but my friends stare in horror

probablykelz , Daiga Ellaby Report

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Haha, omg guys, so once when I was 6, my dad was about to leave on a business trip and my mom grabbed me, pressed the revolver she'd gotten from my grandpa into my throat under my chin, and told my dad that if he left on one more business trip, she'd kill us kids and then herself! Isn't that hilarious?" (that is a true story from my childhood, sadly)

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#19

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Being surprised people will apologize and want to talk out and deal with an issue instead of screaming and pretending everything is fine and never mentioning why there was a fight or argument at all.

ToastedMaple , kevin laminto Report

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was always terrified of my mother as a young child, because one moment she would be screaming at me, beating me, and throwing me across the room, and then 5 minutes later she'd come into the room smiling with a plate of cookies she'd just baked all "Do you want a cookie, Cryssie?" I was off-balance all the time because I had NO idea what I'd done to make her angry, nor why she suddenly wasn't angry AT ALL any more, and I was terrified that I'd do whatever I'd done to p**s her off again and she'd go nuclear again in the next 30 seconds. I had no idea that that wasn't normal.

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#20

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents When you really don’t remember any good times you spent with them.

AverageLegoGameFan , Juliane Liebermann Report

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Lisa H
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There were some good times in my childhood, but I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop because it always, always did. Every day, good or bad, would end with my dad being in a bad mood for some stupid reason.

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#21

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Not reacting appropriately to ordinary situations. Usually an overreaction to a normal situation or underreacting to very messed up situations.

ESQBOJaguar , Justin Snyder Photo Report

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Alexia
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. This is when survival instincts kick in, based on previous experience with your parents. I overreacted so many times in normal situations, because I felt in danger - and obviously this affected my relationships.

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#22

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents My dad was yelling at me once and I couldn't take it so I made a snappy comment back. Instinctively I threw my hands up to block the blow I knew was coming. But then they both tried to convince me that my dad has never hit me before and why would I act like that.....so physically abusive and mentally abusive with gas lighting

DV_Police10 , Caleb Woods Report

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Lakota Wolf
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My older sister gets pissed when I talk about how abusive my mother was towards me. She'll say "Mom never HIT you!" Uh, mom used to cut me with the kitchen knives, not just hit me/throw me across the room. But my sister is my parents' biological child, and I'm adopted. My sister is just like my mother and is/was "the perfect child", so she was never yelled at or hit while we were growing up.

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#23

Can’t explain myself without crying

iiJojo Report

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Brazen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frustration tears, angry tears, sad tears, and tears from laughing too hard...basically all the crying. I'd give anything for this to not be a knee jerk reaction from my body.

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#24

Someone raises their voice- doesn't even have to be in anger; they could just have a deep voice but suddenly its *loud* - and your first reaction is to either shrink in on yourself or focus on anything but their face and wait for your throat to stop feeling so tight or for your eyes to stop watering.

Coffee_Addict019 Report

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a fruity dream of delusion
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this!!! i have never been able to describe the feeling i get when someone becomes loud- it has always terrified me.

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#25

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents When, as an adult, you witness an example of good parenting - and experience a sense of shock, and get dizzy.

Journeyman-Joe , Sarah Medina Report

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Magpie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THIS. Spent a weekend at a friend's home. Was shocked how nice her parents were. Was shocked how she could joke *with* them.

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#26

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents You remember being severely neglected yet you were told “you are spoiled.”

Embarrassed-Swan3568 , Kelly Sikkema Report

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm apparently "spoiled" because I was adopted! My biological mother was an unmarried alcoholic/drug addict who already had two other children (from unknown fathers) and she didn't even have working utilities in her trailer. I was told from a very early age (5ish or so) that I needed to be grateful because I had been taken away from such a HORRIBLE situation and brought to have a "normal" life. Apparently that = me being spoiled.

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#27

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Unable to form or desire romantic attachments and not to forget the numerous mental illnesses you have no control over because your parent doesn’t believe in poor mental health so allowed you to go undiagnosed your whole life :)

ooopsadestructy , Dương Hữu Report

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alex cosgrove
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mine treated me like I was slow. My twin was very book smart. Took a therapist when I was 16 to test my math skills (first diagnosis) and at 23 I got the full testing to find out, nope not slow.. lots of mental disabilities.. I cried hysterically because I finally had a name to the learning disabilities that plagued my life. Best day of my life.

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#28

Not being able to recognize affection or how to show it healthily.

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#29

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents A fantastic sense of humor

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Lakota Wolf
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making jokes hides the pain! If you can make others laugh, even if they're laughing AT you, then you are a-o-kay. I'm a master "class clown"/comedian and most of my jokes are self-deprecating.

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#30

- Thinking you do everything wrong, even small daily tasks, and at a certain moment you hear other people compliment you about doing it well or asking why I am a perfectionist.

- Always apologizing for everything, multiple times

- When people say something, you suspect that they mean something else, something you did wrong, buy they won't tell you until they get so mad they burst.

- Extremely nauseous feelings when someone gets irritated or angry

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Kristi Savage Cook
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've tried to explain to my husband what it's like to ALWAYS feel that things are my fault. If anyone is ever unhappy in my circle, it's my fault and it's my responsibility to fix what's wrong. I think it It must be amazing not to feel this way.

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#31

I can never open up to them. No matter how big or small my problems are, because they'll just tell me I'm being dramatic.

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SparkleFarts
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. There have been a lot of days lately when I really needed to "talk to my mom" but that's just not an option

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#32

You don't talk to them anymore or want them in your life otherwise as an adult (e.g., not inviting them to your wedding, or want them around any potential children you may have).

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Magpie
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cutting off all contact was one of the sanest things I have ever done for myself. And telling social services that my nephews must a NEVER be left alone with either grandparent was also. edit:Life is a bit complicated for them.

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#33

Lot of anger problems

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#34

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents They don’t want you to have any better of a life than they did

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Hatred Pony
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So much this. I had several opportunities as a teen that were never even discussed but shot down immediately. A trip to Greece for $400 with my class (better believe I would try to scrape that money together for my kids), an invitation to study abroad and the big one, admittance into art school my junior year of highschool. My mom never wanted me to succeed or have anything better than she ever had and she pulled opportunities out from under me any chance she had. I even won "sweetheart" at a Valentine's dance at church as a kid, I was so thrilled then because I never won a thing. In the car on the way home she told me about a lady who said I was very rude to her when she said I looked pretty. I couldn't then recall anything close to this situation , she called me a liar and made me feel awful. It wasn't until much later in life that I realized she was the liar.

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#35

My mother treats me like her personal therapist and I'm only 17. She asks me where she went wrong in raising my brother and I and I don't want to tell her because I'm scared of her when she yells.

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#36

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Apologizing constantly

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#37

Even at 31 feeling like if I get close to anyone they'll find a way to take advantage of me

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#38

You're raised by people who can barely function, people who are basically at subsistence level. So you have no tools to be successful in the real world. There's no support other than vague crappy advice to just keep plugging along. You know that everything you get in life can disappear in a moment, and no one will be there to provide for you. Worse, your parents are expecting that you'll somehow magically provide for them in their old age. They send you out into the world with worse-than-s**t life skills, and they expect you to support them.

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T'Mar of Vulcan
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When your valid feelings are dismissed with the words, "You've got to be better than that."

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#39

Feeling weird when people tell you that they love you, recieving hugs, feeling weirded out when you have to give hugs, and my personal favorite, being at the end of the favorite's list

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a fruity dream of delusion
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i like hugs. but one of my friends constantly calls me her favorite, and is very affectionate, and i get very confused. like, why me??

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#40

Not knowing a lot of things that are "common sense" and not realizing til you're an adult yourself

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Magpie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes as a student nurse there were some really basic things I didn't know. Like where adults use talc powder. *arm pits and groin.

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#41

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents If you're the eldest, an extreme urge to help and "save" your younger siblings, even to the detriment of your own mental health.

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Magpie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm the youngest and I constantly tried to save my older sister. From her drug addictions, from the poverty, from her abusive husband.....and so on. It was *all* my fault.

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#42

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents When you are telling a story which you think is a funny story from your childhood, only for someone to turn around and tell you "That's not normal".

​

If you've grown up in a very dysfunctional household, then not only is your norm set at a very messed up bar, but things that would be horrifying to others might be funny to you because of where your norm was set at. Examples of this can include "funny stories" that actually featured a lot of violent or neglect.

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Lakota Wolf
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. I've told my friends "funny stories" of times when my mom cut me with kitchen knives, or times when she'd hit me only below the neck so that "no one would see the bruises", or how funny it was that when I was small and light, she'd throw me across the room and into the walls. My friends would be all O_O; and then hug me.

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#43

Parents that lean more on you in rough times when it should be 100% the other way around

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was 18 and planning to move out, when my dad had an accident that resulted in a catastrophic brain injury. He had such extensive brain damage that he was bedridden, could not speak/communicate or understand, had to wear diapers, and had to have a feeding tube installed. My mother refused to hire professional caregivers for him, so I was his primary caregiver for the next 21 years (he died last year). I never moved out. My dad was a wonderful person and a great father, so I willingly cared for him because I loved him, but it was pretty awful that my mother assumed that well OF COURSE I'd stay living at home and take care of him so that she could go to the casinos/on vacation whenever she wanted.

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#44

You can’t stick to your boundaries

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#45

Self-harm such as cutting

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Magpie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And taking far too many pills and alcohol just to stop thinking about it all.

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#46

50 People Are Sharing The Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Raised By Toxic Parents Uncomfortably into Disney stuff well into old age. I've noticed that a lot of hardcore Disney fans AS ADULTS (I'm talking people who buy the plates, cups, figures, cookie jars, plush characters, etc) often have had bad parents or experiences as a kid. They probably are trying to hold on to some child like feeling that's still in them. Idk.

There's nothing wrong with being into Disney, but, at a certain point, I have to question what exactly went down in your household as a kid.

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Lakota Wolf
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not into Disney specifically, but I'm 40 and I still buy stuffed animals for myself quite often.

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#47

Always screaming. Always angry. Never showed any physical affection. Completely out of tune with their children's lives.

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Alana Voeks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heyyyyyy. This is me 100%. Also never giving any life lessons, like don't lose your virginity to someone who shows you romantic affection for the first time! (Or ever teaching me about sex. Still yet to be taught, they still think I'm a virgin.)

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#48

I knew how to open a beer and pour it with minimal foam for my mom while she was driving.

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#49

You call them for advice and they give you literally the worst advice ever. So you have been doing the opposite haha

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Ronald Cookson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hearing the phrase " when life hands you lemons,make lemonade" is the most repeated and worthless platitude I've ever heard.makes me want to choke the ever loving s**t out of the person who says it.

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#50

They told me the wrong date was my birthday. Didnt find out until my sixteenth birthday going for my drivers licence. Couldnt be bothered with getting it right, real nice of them.

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Alana Voeks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mine is just always forgotten. 10/23. Not hard to remember, yet no one ever can. It's literally 0123 with the 0 and 1 flipped. It's not that hard. And I've never been anywhere even out of the city for my birthday because "education" was so "important" here. But since my brother's birthday was during the summer, we've celebrated his every time we went on vacation.

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