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Member Since Jan 2015
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 92
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#1
What is a healthy family, really?
How about your family? I'm 22 years old. I don't have a father since I was born, he left my mom and older sister. He died when I was in high school, I had mixed emotions because of it. I've always lived with my grandparents, along with my sister and mother. My uncle is also there. And every Saturday my aunt's family (her, my other uncle, three cousins around the same age) always come to see my grandparents. My uncle is really cold and quiet. We don't usually talk, he's just hanging around from work and often gets mad when things piss him off, nobody wants to deal with him when that happens. My grandparents on the other hand are really caring, but protective. And they're really old so my mom, sister, and I have to cater to them a lot and I get exhausted these days, I can't even go to work, and would close my room and cry/look at my walls. My mom and sister always fight, mom is actually emotionally unavailable since I was young, whenever I feel something and talk to her it's like she's always on the opposing side and doesn't seem to understand me. She sometimes says I'm "too emotional". She's preoccupied with work, my sister's problem, and these days my grandparents. My sister on the other always speaks her mind even using harsh words, she often breaks through my boundaries and I have to lock my door so that she doesn't enter my room or share too much and too long about her problems I mean, she can actually complain to me the same thing every day for hours and repeat the very same day. It's been 7 years. My aunt's family is also really cold. When they come to my house we usually end up talking badly and laugh about other family members (i usually keep silent), and the amount of sarcasm... Oh, God. Even though they laugh a lot, they are the most unpleasant ones to be around honestly. I always feel threatened when they're around, it's like I can be belittled any moment if I do any wrong things. And they like to order me around not asking about my condition/feelings. Is that what having a 'family' feel like? Is it normal? In these covid months, I can't go out so I feel miserable. How about your family? What is a healthy family? |
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Bill3, MickeyCheeky
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Bill3, MickeyCheeky
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Threadtastic Postaholic
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#2
No that is not how a family is or should be. Do you have friends? Sometimes our friends become our family.
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Legendary
Member Since Sep 2015
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#3
I do not know too, how the healthy family should be. But reading how you describe your family, I have to agree that they are toxic. Is it possible for you to move out and live on your own after the pandemic end?
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Legendary
Member Since Dec 2014
Location: USA
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#4
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Have you read about Childhood Emotional Neglect? Also, there are many psychological articles to read on ‘what is a healthy relationship, family or any other’. No, yours is not healthy. The fact you sound so alone and cry tells you something isn’t right. Identifying and learning about it is a good step to start your journey of self care. __________________ "And don't say it hasn't been a little slice of heaven, 'cause it hasn't!" . About Me--T |
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Chocopiano27
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Bill3, Chocopiano27
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#5
First of all, i am So Sorry for your Loss! i must agree with the other wise posters that this doesn't seem like an healthy Family. Is it possible for you to move out and go live with someone else, such as some Friends or other people whom you trust? Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @Chocopiano27, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!
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Chocopiano27
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Chocopiano27
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Member
Member Since Jan 2015
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 92
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#6
I actually have trust issues with close friends (I have PTSD because I've been bullied) so it's kinda hard to feel comfortable around them, and I've been really isolating myself because of the pandemic (I live with my grandparents..). fortunately, it's not a problem for relationship, but currently LDR :')
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Bill3
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Bill3
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Member
Member Since Jan 2015
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 92
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#7
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Hope this year I'll be financially independent at least be able to pay my own monthly expense, I'm looking forward to it |
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Member
Member Since Jan 2015
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 92
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#8
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But yes, you're right there is something wrong if I cry and feel so alone. Though sometimes my mind tells me that I'm just feeling 'temporarily fatigued' so there shouldn't be anything wrong. I just kinda want examples from other people so I can compare the experience of this 'good' and 'bad' families |
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Legendary
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#9
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My mother said that she loved me, and it is possible that she did love me in her self-centered way. I was most "loved" when I was getting good degrees, good jobs, etc., things that made her look good, so she could brag about me and feel like she was a successful mother. I wasn't loved for just myself, who I am, mostly she didn't approve of who I am, to the extent that she even knew who I was. Haha one time she and one of my high school teachers agreed that Bill "knows what he wants", and I marveled at how little they both knew of me. I think that if someone loves you in a meaningful way then they accept you and welcome you as you are, attend to you, take your wishes into account, act in kind and loving ways to you. So to me it is quite possible for someone to claim that they love you, and also be harmful to you. My mother was a good example of that. |
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Legendary Wise Elder
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#10
Great post Bill
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Bill3
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Member
Member Since Dec 2018
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#11
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First I want to say I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. It must be frustrating:/ second, I would say it IS normal, but not ideal. People always say everyone has a dysfunctional family but the kinddd of dysfunction is different. Unfortunately in todays age where many people come from broken homes, it is considered normal at least in my opinion. You’d like to think that everyone has a family where parents never get divorced or seperate, everyone lives together, gets along and lives well into old age etc. but i feel like that is very rare. Many families have drama, secrets, unfinished business and with covid it’s only exacerbating it all with everyone being cooped up at home with one another.. |
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