It’s not easy being the child of a narcissistic parent
25M here, and my childhood has been a pity.
I have had every material thing I wanted and asked for, but I always felt controlled and judged.
My father is an extremely narcissistic person and have a very high sense of superiority. As a child, I felt he’s bossy and that’s how it is. As I grew up, I saw him for what he truly was. I saw him as an extremely insecure person with a lot of void. And guess what, all his insecurities have manifested as my own insecurities now.
I feel empty, lonely, void deep within, but I give out a false sense of superiority for social validation.
I feel very “different” from my friends/colleagues of my age. I just wonder why I feel like I must carry so much weight, while the rest simple live their lives happily.
For instance, as a child, all my choices were mocked. If I dressed up well, or combed my hair, my dad would go like “eeew, high class children are supposed to be simple and minimalistic. That’s what makes children adorable.
So i stopped giving attention to how i dress up. I started going out in shorts and keep a shabby hair.
And guess what, my dad would shame me for being “shabby”.
I remember going through all this as early as when i was 11.
This is just a tiny example.
I still dread how my dad would stare at me with judgement whenever i talk/laugh/socialise with people at functions/gatherings. Sometimes, he would mock the way I laugh. Sometimes, he would say I must not talk to certain people. Sometimes, he would just say “be a decent child”. And sometimes, he wouldn’t say ANYTHING. Just the cold stare. And when I look at him, he would just look away.
And i would cry so much.
Fast forward to my 25 year old self, I am hardly able to make decisions myself, even simple everyday choices, not life altering choices.
I seek public/social validation so much.
I feel like I am incapable of loving or being loved.
Has anybody dealt with a narcissist parent? How have you broken free from the clutches?