Most parents genuinely do their best to provide their children
ith a happy and healthy upbringing, but even these individuals can a
ccidentally make mistakes that may result in future therapy appointments.
Unfortunately, some parents go beyond the occasional mistake
and veer into the toxic category. R
egardless of whether or not a parent is purposefully being toxic, there are s
everal behaviors that can cause so much emotional and mental damage to
a child that it ends up greatly affecting them even after they have grown up.
If you experienced any of the following situations as a child, the o
dds are high that one or both of your parents were at least slightly toxic.
1. They Fail To Provide You With Affirmation And Security
Some people believe that showing tough love is an important way to ensure that their
children are able to take care of themselves in the future. If you were the recipient of
this approach on a regular basis, you might even believe that this has had a positive
impact on your life.
However, if you practically fall apart now because of any perceived failure or
rejection,
then this most likely stems from a parent's toxic refusal to provide you with the right
amount of security and affirmation while you were young. Tough love might work sometimes,
but it cannot be the only approach a parent takes if they want their child to become a
well-rounded adult.
2. They Are Overly Critical
Everyone's parents criticize from time to time. Without this component,
we might never learn how to do numerous things properly, such as
everyday chores like washing laundry. A toxic parent takes this to extremes by
being overly critical about everything their child does. Parents can
make the mistake of believing that they do this to make sure their children
avoid making costly mistakes. Unfortunately, what this behavior really does
is causing the child to develop a harsh inner critic that can be borderline crippling
during adulthood.
3. They Demand Your Attention
Toxic parents often turn their children into their own parental substitutes by
demanding their attention at all times. This can be seen as bonding between
the parent and child, but it is really a parasitic relationship that requires too
much of the child's time and energy when they should be focused on learning other skills.
Although it may be difficult at times, a well-rounded parent will allow their children
enough
space to grow and be kids without demanding constant interaction to suit their own needs.