My dad treated me like a boxing bag for the slightest transgression.
I once squatted for an entire night. Squatted. Because at dusk, I was gaming in the middle of a room with a very creaky floor and then darkness fell. I was expected to be in my own room, and now I was trapped. Had to turn off the console as to not make any noise or quick movement.
Had my parents found out, they’d have flat out killed me, and that’s not an exaggeration.
Oh, and apart from the constant physical and mental abuse, I was never allowed to leave the house except for going to school, and couldn’t make any phone call exceeding one minute.
I got out of it eventually, but it took a lot of healing. My siblings’ lives are still completely ruined, though.
Comment on Any other trauma victims?
Sho@lemmy.world 1 day agoNothing teaches you to sneak around better than an angry/violent parent. I learned how to walk around the creaky house at night silently and without a light on. Stay strong fellow lemmy 💪
PartyAt15thAndSummit@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
Sho@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
Jesus, that’s some monstrous behavior. Glad you got out, I’m hoping your siblings can do the same.
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
my wife never understood how I could walk around our 100+ year old house without making a sound.
she brought it up one Christmas and my sister told her, “you know why that is, right? because dad was a light sleeper and would have beat our asses to death if he woke up.”
it really put it in perspective for my wife hearing that from my sister and not just me.
I’m on meds now, and it makes the anxiety manageable.
Sho@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
I have done the same thing, freaks some ppl out being 6’1. Your sister was right too, light sleeper fathers = beating being had, which is an odd thing since that act would wake them up way more then a creaky floor. Glad to hear I’m not alone though. It makes me feel better knowing there are other silent walkers out there :) is the anxiety bad some days?
GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
it used to be. my kids can be loud and I was constantly on edge. it became a problem when I started yelling at them. I realized I was starting to do to them what had happened to me.
After a year of trying I was finally able to get a Dr to prescribe some meds and it’s been so much better. I’m not nearly as jumpy or quick to anger anymore.
feel like I can finally be a better dad than I had.