How Do Parents Bully Their Children?
All parents want their children to grow up in a peaceful environment. A calm domestic atmosphere ensures the healthy development of a child’s mental faculties. But what if there are parents who bully their children and cause mental disturbance?
You often hear about children bullying other children. It may seem difficult to believe, but bullying parents exist too. In other words, parents who have a controlling attitude are likely to bully their children. They can cause real problems in the lives of their children.
Not only do they produce an emotional disturbance in their children’s lives, but they also hamper their mental growth. So, parents should stick to a more supportive and moderate style of parenting.
Furthermore, research shows that parents who bully their children foster a sense of insecurity in their children. These children are more likely to cause discomfort to others. Therefore, such parents need to change their attitude if they want their kids to be confident and happy.
Also Read: Why Ignoring the Emotional Needs of a Child Can Be Traumatic?
How do parents who bully their children behave?
Studies show that adult bullies can be of different types. They may be self-centered showing no empathy towards their children. However, some may misbehave because they are in a stressful situation.
Apart from that, the most common type of parents who bully their children is verbal bullying parents. They use demeaning language and humiliate their children. As a result, it can have severe psychological impacts on the children and may also lead them into depression.
However, the worst form of adult bullying is physical bullying. Children who are victims of physical intimidation tend to behave aggressively. Moreover, they may have a hard time interacting with people and developing long-term relationships.
Also Read: How To Overcome Communication Gap In Your Family?
Ten signs your parents are bullying you
Most parents who bully their children have an antagonistic parenting style while some may do so accidentally. No matter the approach, these adults lead to potentially damaging psychological issues. Below are ten signs that indicate your parents are bullying you.
1. Behavioral Manipulation
If you feel that your parents scold you too much over petty little matters, you should consider talking to them about their attitude. Don’t be afraid if they try to manipulate you in every case. There is nothing wrong with reaching out and asking for help from your teachers or relatives.
Also Read: Things Kids Want From Their Parents – Are You Paying Attention?
2. Verbal Abuses
Words can cause a lot of damage. Some parents who bully their children use sarcastic comments to humiliate their children. As a result, children have to face numerous mental health problems.
Moreover, children start abusing their friends and fellows. The attitude they develop at an early age goes with them for the rest of their lives. To avoid this, parents shouldn’t yell or speak ill of anyone in front of their children.
Also Read: How To Be A Good Mom?
3. Having Trouble Sleeping
Another common thing that you may experience due to domestic violence is sleep disturbance. Sleep acts as a healer and relieves stress. If you are unable to sleep, your health will wear down gradually.
Also, you may have frequent nightmares and headaches. Processing the abuse will be difficult when you are not getting any sleep.
4. Unfair Punishment
Some parents use very harsh tactics to control their children. They punish them without any reason to make them fear. Therefore, if your parents inflict pain on you for making little mistakes, they are bullying you.
5. Exposure to Drugs and Violence
Unlike most parents who bully their children, some parents may expose their children to drugs. Exposing children to drugs and violence is a violation of their rights. If you experience such a situation, you should report it to the authorities immediately.
Also Read: How To Keep Your Child Safe From Sexual Abuse?
6. Changes in Eating Habits
You may notice a change in your eating habits. Moreover, most children who are victims of parental bullying end up being anorexic or obese. Eating disorders are a common observation among such children.
Furthermore, you may also become self-destructive. To prevent this, you need to seek out help from relatives and teachers.
7. Losing Interest in Studies
Poor academic performance is another outcome of parental bullying. You may lose interest in schoolwork and studies. Not just that, you may also feel hesitation in going to school.
As a result, parental bullying can destroy your academic career. So, it would be best if you tried to stay put and focus on your studies.
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8. Decreased Self-Esteem
Sadly, parents who bully their children erode their self-esteem. Children develop a sense of fear and helplessness. In the long run, it destroys their character and decreases their self-confidence.
Also, such children are afraid of speaking up for themselves. If you feel that you can’t stand up for your rights, you may be a victim of parental bullying.
9. Disturbed Social Life
When parents act aggressively, their children start to fear them. As a result, children are reluctant to speak about their problems with their parents. It leads to a communication gap that casts a long-term impact on the social life of the children.
Moreover, they fail to make friends and maintain relationships. In short, such children become socially isolated and withdrawn.
Also Read: How Does It Affect a Child Mentally If Parents Are Fighting All The Time?
10. Continuous Criticism
Finally, if your parents keep criticizing you all the time, you will feel incompetent and insecure. You will lose confidence in yourself and become pessimistic. But you don’t want this to happen, right?
Most parents who bully their children insult them and cast negative comments about their skills. So, you should stay strong and face them with courage.
Also Read: How To Teach Your Kids About Good and Bad Touch?
Dealing with parental bullying
Parental bullying decreases the ability of children to function independently. As children, you must know how to deal with it. Only then can you lead a happy and independent life.
First off, you should try to talk to your parents. It would be best if you made them understand that they are in the wrong. If this doesn’t work out, you should go for other options. Try to talk to your school teacher or a relative. Make sure that they understand the gravity of the problem.
If they don’t help you out, you should resort to a law enforcement agency for the protection of your rights. You mustn’t stay quiet and let your parents bully you. Otherwise, it can have long-lasting effects on your psyche.