Your Parents Might’ve Meant Well, But They Raised You Scared

I used to think fear was just part of love.

When I was younger, I believed that if someone loved you, they had the right to shout at you, scare you into obedience, and punish you “for your own good.” That was how I was raised.

And it took me years of awkward relationships, hidden anxiety, and second-guessing myself to realize that wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

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I still flinch when someone raises their voice.

It doesn’t matter if they’re angry at me or just passionate about a conversation. My body reacts, and I immediately zone out.

Funny how your childhood never really leaves you.

It just shape-shifts into adult habits you call “personality.”

For a long time, I thought something was wrong with me.

I struggled with connecting, opening up, and trusting people.

I wanted closeness, but didn’t know how to do “soft” without feeling like I was being weak. And a big part of that is because I was raised scared.

Growing Up on Eggs

I grew up in a home where emotions were either suppressed or scolded.