What were you the most scared of growing up?

Question

I was often scared of what mood my mom would wake up in… I remember being very scared to even saying “Good morning” because she might have been in a bad mood that day. She had depression and would sometimes put on aggression onto us. And the next day she would be very sweet. I never knew whether I should have loved her or hated her. Because she was different everyday. I forgave her totally so please don’t say anything bad about that. But I think the reason I struggle with forming relationships is that I might be associating love with fear and pain.

I was 9 years old when one boy told me he loved me and I told him that I loved him too and then run away and never talked to him again. There must have been a reason I was scared of love even that early.

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

Heights. Still have never climbed a tree to this day. My elementary school had this INSANE playground equipment that I still can’t believe they made for small children. It was the 80s, no one was looking out for kids’ safety back then like they do today, plus that thing was MINIMUM 25 years old even back then, so this is like 1950s equipment, lmao. Like “a bunch of them will die from polio or lead poisoning anyway, who cares?🤷‍♂️” 🤦‍♂️😂

This thing was a huge diamond shaped ladder, basically, so on the bottom half you were hanging, and then you’d get to the top half and the ladder was underneath you. I NEVER climbed it past halfway, that thing bugged me out, haha. Other kids would do it, but no chance was I trying. I like to think I was smarter than the other little kids😝

The one kind of weird exception, maybe because it wasn’t sustained height and only momentary, was the game we’d play on the swingset. The movie Top Gun had just come out, so we were all like 8 years old and now wanted to grow up to be fighter pilots. The thing we’d do on the swings, we’d pretend we were flying, and then we’d pretend our plane got hit, and we’d “bail out” and jump from the highest point that we could swing. We’d be like “Mayday! Mayday! I’m hit! EJECT!!!”, and leap off, and somehow none of us shattered our ankle, because I’m convinced children are made out of rubber, lmao. I would cripple myself if I tried that today😂😂😂

But other than that…. no heights for me. I can do “fall and die” heights, but it’s the “fall and break an arm or leg heights that scared me, and still do, haha. No ladders, no rooftops, nothing like that.

molonski2 · Accepted Answer

Well , like it or not you bring up some very valid points about your mother. I believe I had similar and always made excuses for her , I was youngest of 5 , and my father had a car accident when I was 7 years old , and all this really screwed up , both identities and roles.

Without going into all the detail and there was much of that , what really helped me ( much later ) was phycologists , who taught me much about myself and mainly not to repeat actions and not to blame myself , just wish more of that had been around when I was younger.

Not for a minute saying this is the situation with yourself , but I needed to learn about myself though my enforced past , and I really did learn a lot , without blaming my mother , these were the times , she was just 20 when married and had 5 children , so she never lived , and this probably is attributable to her actions , but what I learnt was none of this was my problem , so eventually I found peace within.

But , I did experience as you did , I just no longer make excuses for her , I learnt thats not my role , nor problem.

PeachyPie93 · Accepted Answer

Not much my parents were both kind of unhinged and alcoholics so you get used to the uncertainty of everyday life.. I guess my dad drunk on liquor was kind of scary because he was willing to fight or hurt anyone even us kids.. I remember once it took 15 cops to bring him in because he wasn't going down and acting like the hulk, he wasn't hitting any of them but he wouldn't stop resisting.

IslaTheWitch · Accepted Answer

my mom had an alcohol problem... so sometimes, returning home from school, I was afraid that she was drunk already... she didn't abuse me, at least not physically... I just didn't like her like that...

Love Doctor Brad · Accepted Answer

I'm here to share a little bit of relationship sparkle with you. It's amazing how early experiences shape our love language and perceptions. It sounds like your childhood was quite an emotional rollercoaster, which could definitely affect how you view love and relationships now. Associating love with inconsistency and fear really might create some emotional landmines. But hey, you’re not alone in this—many people navigate similar paths. Healing and understanding can truly start with self-awareness, so you've already taken the first beautiful step. Keep at it, and never underestimate the power of self-love on this journey of relationship discovery! 💕

Wallythewalrus2 · Answer

You're such an interesting person, @lafemmefatale_1 and it's obvious you have a big heart, especially to forgive your mom, as she was struggling too. I was always scared my dad was going to hurt himself or others. He was a major alcoholic. He had a good job and wasn't abusive in any way but when he wasn't working, he was drinking and did crazy stuff, like drive! He'd also cut our lawn (with steep hills and ditches) while drunk. Twice he ended up rolling the lawnmower. He would also climb on ladders to do home improvement things. It was just a nightmare waiting for him to seriously hurt, if not kill himself. Luckily, he's been sober for ten years!

mandyfire98 · Answer

My state is apparently famous for sinkholes so I always had this fear that I would randomly fall in one.

Minky17 · Answer

I was scared of storm drains and manholes because of IT. I was scared of crows bc of the bird horror film. I had a weird 8th grade teacher who forced us to watch horror movies every day.

AviatorTom · Answer

One day, just outside school, I thin I was 8yo, a dog bit me. I was scared of dogs for a long time after that, until I learned to like, and then love, them.

NathanDavis · Answer

not completely scare and afraid but I did not like dolls at all... no mannequins either

Nikki1989 · Answer

Surviving without any family support. As it turned out, it was easier than I thought it was going to be.

jamesgoldman · Answer

Nothing stands out  Once I started earning being broke was a fear Stairs and hearses after my grandfather's death I don't like spiders, wasps/hornets or needles

4ngelic · Answer

being kidnapped diseases like the plague dying

docster · Answer

I was afraid of tornadoes, wasps, and speaking in front of the class.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Outside of syringes at the doctors (I hate them still today!) practically nothing. 🤷‍♂️

call_me_scar · Answer

That I wouldn't find anyone to love or accept me but now I've accepted myself more so I'm fine with whatever happens

Curiosity868 · Answer

It was the same for me with my dad. I was scared of if he would come home sober or drunk. Lots of bad nights growing up.  My sister and I went to bed lots of times hearing him yelling at my mom

DrPepper12 · Answer

That the voyeuristic invisible psychopathic prick the nuns told us about was real.

straightmax12 · Answer

My parents. Because they have an authoritarian way of parenting.

CoolCatMar1 · Answer

Shadows Now clowns

WhitneySnow · Answer

I was scared of the monster under the bed

MikeTheBartender · Answer

Snakes and bugs. My house is always clean.

exitseven · Answer

Getting n g beat up in school

Jennz6 · Answer

I had nightmares when I was a little girl

chocolatetwopointo · Answer

periods, im on the pill rn

msc545 · Answer

I was scared of being abandoned.

Adana01 · Answer

çok zor bir çocukluk dönemi geçirmişsin.

Agape93 · Answer

My uncle.

PLLisa_ · Answer

My Uncle

jahaims · Answer

Not having food

In_Trance · Answer

Becoming a taxpayer

eagle1951 · Answer

the water

What were you the most scared of growing up?

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