Going no contact with a parent can be an emotionally draining journey, especially when faced with social stigma and judgments. Family is everything, you only have one mother/father…We’ve all heard these statements our whole lives. Yet there comes a time when cutting off a parent may be your only option. Emotionally, you may be dealing […]
toxic parent
10 Common Character Traits Imprinted by an Abusive Parent
Do you ever wonder why you are the way you are? Why do you do the things you do? Why is it so hard for you to lead a “normal” life, unburdened by mental struggles? You might be surprised to learn that character traits you thought were personal flaws aren’t actually your fault. They could […]
Why Your Enabler Father Didn’t Protect You From Your Narcissistic Mother
Did you grow up with a narcissistic mother and an enabler father? If so, you probably have conflicting feelings about him. On the one hand, you feel a certain closeness and even sympathy for him. After all, narcissists are incapable of healthy relationships, so they’re often abusive to their spouses as well as their children. […]
The Upside of Being a Scapegoat Child of a Narcissistic Parent
If you are an adult child of a narcissistic parent, you likely played one of two roles in your family: a golden child or a scapegoat. A golden child is the pride of the family, while the scapegoat occupies a much less enviable role — that of a screwup who can’t do anything right. If […]
The Dark Reality of Being a Golden Child of a Narcissistic Parent
If you have a narcissistic parent, you can play one of two polar opposite roles in your family: golden child or scapegoat. If you’re a golden child, you’re your parent’s favorite little darling and you can do no wrong. In most people’s eyes, this is an enviable position to be in, especially if you consider […]
Do Toxic Parents Get Better in Old Age?
Do toxic parents get better in old age or do they become even more insufferable? On this website, we talk a lot about toxic or narcissistic parents, the lies they taught you, and how to stop seeking love and validation from them. But any exploration of an abusive parent’s psychology would be incomplete without understanding […]