Raised in a ‘cult-like’ family?

Hi

Anyone grow up in a family which was cult-like? This means you were not able to be an individual and were severely bullied if you behaved outside the box that was assigned to you? My older sister psychologically tortured me for being me from an early age. It was a matriarchal family so my sisters were favoured over us boys. I for one was severely bullied and told by my older sisters that I had to think like them and there was otherwise a ‘no talk rule’ that applied to me. Yes a very sick and dysfunctional family. Anybody else have a similar experience as a child?

I can relate to this. I grew up in a very religious family...still is. And yet endured so much abuse that to this day it is to remain hidden and secret because of the religious positions family members hold in the church. I want to break free so bad but like you said...'no talk rule' applies here.
In my case favoritism is towards the boys in the family. Girls are second..we are not respected nor valued. I'm sorry you experienced this.

Purple I am so sorry for the things that happened to you and the things you had to endure. I was raised in a religious family and the push for a high moral standard led me to feel like telling my parents I was raped was not an option. I come from some slight dysfunction as well. It does make us who we are. When I look at me and my sister, and the way we were raised I like me so much more. My sister fits right in with my family, I on the other hand am just "different" in my families eyes. I was never good enough and am still not good enough. I keep my family ties, but there are things I don't agree with and I just keep quiet to keep the piece.

I am sorry again that you had to go threw life's trials.