Growing up, my dad exposed me to things I now realize were completely inappropriate: watching adult content around me, leaving questionable stuff near the computer, waking me up with kisses on the lips, and being overly physical in ways that made me uncomfortable. It was confusing. He wasn’t abusive outright but it was weird, and I felt unsafe.
Now that I’m married, I sometimes flinch at affection or freeze up when things get too close and I think it traces back to that. We barely talk now except for the occasional birthday greeting, and I’m numb about it.
Anyone else experience something similar? How do you even begin to unpack this kind of thing?
Comments
It was weird and your body knew it before your mind could explain it. Distance isn’t coldness, it’s survival and unpacking this means honoring your discomfort instead of minimizing it.