Not that they will physically harm you, but that feeling of nervousness, of unease every time they enter a room or come home, like they're about to snap. Like you're always on edge.
Is it normal to be afraid of your parents?
Superb Opinion
Awww... no... that's not normal.
I'm so sorry you're feeling that way. That must be really difficult.
Now, there are two things that come to mind. First: Do you have (or might you maybe possibly have) anxiety. Is that something that you may have developed recently?
I think the feeling you're describing is "anxiety related"
The other question I'd have would be: Have you always felt this way? Or has this gotten worse recently?
If there isn't any reason you can point to (parents are especially stressed because of a job, or fighting between them etc etc)... and you haven't felt this way forever then I would especially think it might be anxiety.
The last thing to consider is: If you try and take a step back and look at it: Is the amount/frequency/level of the "fear" or "anxiety" you experience in the neighborhood of "appropriate" or "justifiable".
In other words, if you have parents who DO tend to snap on you, and that's how you've grown up... then it sorta makes sense (is appropriate). Like your feelings have some basis in the ACTUAL likelihood of your parents snapping. If your parents DO indeed have short tempers and DO seem to snap randomly, then... your reaction makes sense... but is a really awful way to have to feel around your parents.
The same goes if your parents snapped on you in some over-the-top extreme way over something or other... like on a whole other level than anything you've ever seen in your life... and now you're feeling this way since then. That ALSO is a way it could be "justified".
If, on the other hand, your parents are actually not prone to snapping more than most parents... that's again, where I'd point to "anxiety" (or something related).
I would love to know more about your situation, if you'd care to reply. This really hurt my heart.
Most Helpful Opinions
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No. But it is for me. My father has serious anger issues and mother nags me to death. Basically I walked on eggshells. If I didn't speak loudly enough I got punished, if I cried after getting hit in the face accidentally at baseball practice I got punished. It was macho to the max, no being a kid. I was afraid to ask for things to do school projects because I didn't want to hear him bitch. No it's not normal but it is wrong and damaging. I didn't get any relief until I moved out. Look forward to that. We lived 2 miles outside of town and I couldn't get a job as a teenager because he would not help me even though the gas station and McDonald's was maybe 200 ft from the road he had to go down to go to work.
I think your parents are very dominant in the house. That’s why you are feeling this way. I had same parents always felt uneasy and ever time they would look at me I couldn’t feel relaxed. I always felt like “oh my dad is watching “ and I used to feel numb. They were very good parents It’s not like I didn’t like them.. but the vibe was very dominant. Later in life I learned that’s because the relationship I had with my parents was pure daughter — parent relationship. For example my dad was never my “friend “ he was strictly a dad. Meaning I couldn’t joke around him if I did he wouldn’t act good to it his face will be very angry to say..
I’m sorry your parents are like this. Know that is not your fault. They chose this kind of a relationship with their own children so you can’t help it. Try to give it a chance feel relax around them start by practicing it. Think that they actually truly love you but their vibe is very dominant because they believe this will make you stronger.
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It is how you were raised. Some parents have instilled fear as a form of respect. Now I'm not saying this is right as it can be abusive (the extent how they may use discipline or authority over you). Sometimes it's just power dynamic. I don't think it's normal but each person is raised in a completely different household where they have different ideas of parenting.
What Girls & Guys Said
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When my dad gets mad, he gets really, not abusicmve but i can tell he wants to beat somebody up to let his anger out, I also do that but not as bad, when he gets mad he switches from while being pissed off and wanting to kill somebody all of a suddwn he is a nice guy then immediately back to wanting to kill somebody. So yes I am kind of afraid of my dad. My mom isn't mean though, so their is a good parent. Also my dad was abusive to my mom while she was pregnant with me and when my mom told me that I got more afraid of him even though he wasn't as much abusive now as he was back then.
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I think it's cuz you expect them to scold you for something you did. I can't count how many times I was just chilling thinking there's nothing wrong. Then my dad comes around yells my name and starts reming me out for some mistake I made. I expect it all the time now. Is it normal? I don't know I wouldn't want to cause my children anxiety.
- 683 opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
One should respect their parents, not be fearful of them.
You should try to think about what is causing you fear. Is there something in the past that you did (maybe you're afraid of getting caught for something that your parents haven't found out yet?). Or maybe something that they did that scares you? - 840 opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
Not normal, I’d say. Though I’m right there with you. My parents are a bit toxic. They aren’t toxic on purpose, they’re just incredibly narcissistic and I can’t help themselves. So I keep are relationship at arms length and everytime I see them I treat them like crazy people. Because the mentally I’ll can’t help it either.
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Shouldn't be normal. Unfortunately it is. But to be fair, my parents were also always worried that if slice them up in their sleep. So... I don't know.
I would have but ya know... All that mess and work to clean up. Nah. - 538 opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
I don't think you should be concerned about if it's normal or not. If this brings you unnecessary stress, it's obviously not beneficial & you'd be better off trying to fix the issue.
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wouldn't say it's normal but I'm sure a lot of people feel it. I do whenever my dad's come home.
- 528 opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
Yes when that are narcissists or emotionally abusive.
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Yes. They are authority in our house.
Authority always brings some sort of fear. - 1.1K opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
No and I shared that feeling too. I called it a minefield
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I felt like that around my dad for many years. No. It is not normal. Your parents should be there to help you.
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no this isn't normal. your parents are your leaders, you should be comfortable coming to them with your problems
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not scared but sometimes things are weird so I try not to look at them
- 420 opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
No, it's not normal. It means they inflict fear in you, and respect shouldn't come out of fear.
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i was sometimes afraid of my Mom when she was drinking
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That's pretty normal. I felt that way about my father.
- 1.1K opinions shared on Family & Friends topic.
I don't think anyone should be walking on egg shells around their parents
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You should be respectful of your parents…but no it is not normal to fear them. Sounds like it’s time for you to move out.
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I never told him about how I feel but being around my dad makes me feel sick to my stomach.
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I don’t feel that way around my parents
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