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I think my mother emotionally abuses me and my dad. Is she? How do I cope?

For as long as I can remember she has been the speaker of mean, close-minded, snide comments. I'm 20 and since I was a kid I've heard her say all kinds of stuff to my dad, called him an abuser, said he was worse than his mum who's passed, told me I'm not what she wanted, that she doesn't like me, kept secrets. These are slight specifics but basically she is callous and attacking but then has moments of being lovely. It's hard to handle and is confusing.

I know that before they got married mum had problems with dad but he's always been an amazing parent to me and has kept 95% of their many many many arguments away from me completely. In my opinion, if she had issues with him she shouldn't have said yes when he proposed.

Dad's resigned himself to just not replying to save the argument. Last year they told me they were divorcing then changed their minds. Dad suggested that he moved out while they went to therapy to try to fix things but I insisted that he stay because I didn't want to be left with her. He stayed and now I feel guilty that I've moved away to uni and he's left to deal with her.

I literally broke down and had a borderline panic attack trying to tell her how she upsets me last night and she played victim as always and refused to accept that she made me that but insisted I was doing it to myself. She wouldn't listen, she never does so things never change.

This has turned into a bit of a rant but I need advice on how to cope, because it's getting so difficult.

Update:

I have read a list detailing a narcissistic mother and she is one.

I wish I could escape her and have nothing more to do with her but unless my dad leaves her too then she'll keep me from him and I refuse to be kept from my only decent parent.

I've hurt myself.

She's reduced my dad into a shell of a man, she didn't celebrate his promotion, didn't write in his father's day card and is an ungrateful ***** to him concerning money since she left work due to ill mental and physical health.

1 Answer

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  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    To start off, I'm sorry you even have to deal with that. I have been in your shoes..still am. For years(some more rough than others), she has verbally assaulted me. She lowered my self-esteem and put me down so much I was at one point, suicidal and trying to cut myself. She was similar to your mother, but in my case she wouldn't say I'm imagining it. She'd just always play victim. Having some dramatic story to why her life is tragic, why I'm worthless etc etc. My story aside, I have learned to not let her words get to me because If I did..I would've done some horrible things to myself. You have to stay strong. You are an adult now, I know this is easier said than done but you have to be strong. Confront your mother, make her realize how serious you are. Make her see the damage she has done to her own child. I'm not going to antagonize your mother nor am I going to ask you to be a saint. If she is to be in your life, you gotta fight her. Not physically, of course. You cannot move on in life if she is a constant hindrance. Talk to your father. If he is as good a father as you say, he will hear you out. Is he still staying with your mother for your sake? My story doesn't end well but I hope yours does. Don't get used to this and don't let it get to you either. If she is too far gone to even listen than you are going to have to move on without her. I wish you luck.

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