⚔️ What it means to have grown up with a punishing parent
Growing up with a punishing parent meant learning that love and humiliation were inseparable, and that the people closest to you had the power to use your vulnerabilities as weapons.
You may have lived with constant criticism disguised as "help," endured gaslighting that made you question your own reality, or experienced emotional manipulation where your parent's love felt conditional on your perfect behavior. Your feelings were likely dismissed, minimized, or turned against you. You learned to watch your parent's moods constantly, adapting yourself to avoid the next wave of punishment, blame, or psychological control.
This experience taught you to be incredibly skilled at reading people and surviving in hostile environments, but it came with devastating costs. You may now struggle to trust your own judgment, expect manipulation from those closest to you, or find yourself frozen during conflicts. Your nervous system might still be wired to see authentic self-expression as dangerous, leaving you filtering your true thoughts and feelings even in safe relationships.