Sorry for the long title!! Also: I only experience this with my mother, and neither of my parents have hit me before. But I’m still scared they will, especially when my mom raises her voice at me
Sorry for the long title!! Also: I only experience this with my mother, and neither of my parents have hit me before. But I’m still scared they will, especially when my mom raises her voice at me
Comments
Yes. My mom was very explosive growing up, and now as an adult someone raising their voice at me is very triggering.
No one should be yelling at you. Not even your parents. Flinching is a normal response. Is it safe to talk to your mom about how her raising her voice makes you feel??
Yes. My parents haven’t spanked me since I was a kid (last and only time I got whipped with a belt was once when i was like 8) but overall I am aware they won’t ever hit me. I don’t flinch when they move around me. Yeah my dad pokes me or grips my shoulder hard enough jokingly or even accidentally that it does hurt / bruise very lightly but I think I’m just overly sensitive and weak physically.
On occasion my dad has had a yelling session at me for something I did, my body enters frozen panic. I know hes not going to hurt me. My response is very internal. But idk why i have a physical reation. Ill also start shivering violently. Although sometimes he’s so angry he’ll slam his hand very hard and loud repeatedly on a surface. Even if he isn’t, I shrink up and want to curl into the chair or ground or wherever I am because I can feel it emotionally like a gut punch. My muscles also tense so hard that I become immobile once shrunk in so idk if that’s flinching or not.
This has only happened like 3 times in my life though and I’m 24. So it’s not frequently enough that I feel unsafe around him. I hang with my parents every day still. I think my reactions are internal feelings blown out of proportion and I can’t regulate myself in those situations.