Narcissistic or abusive parents
If home feels like walking on eggshells, that’s real, and it’s not your fault.
What it can look like
- Constant put-downs, blaming you for their feelings, or punishing you with silence.
- Rewriting what happened so you doubt your own memory (“that never happened,” “you’re too sensitive”).
- Controlling your phone, friends, money, or food to keep power over you.
- Turning siblings or the other parent against you.
- Threats, hitting, shoving, locking you in or out, or touching you in ways that aren’t okay. That is abuse.
Things that can help
- Name it to yourself. Write down what happens and how you felt, somewhere safe (not a shared device).
- Don’t argue to “win.” With someone who twists things, short, calm answers (“okay,” “I hear you”) can keep you safer. You don’t owe them a debate.
- Build a life outside the house. School, clubs, work, a friend’s family, a library. Those all count as safe places.
- Find one adult. A counselor, teacher, coach, relative, or friend’s parent. See how to talk to a trusted adult.
- Make a safety plan if things get physical: where you’d go, who you’d call, and keeping your phone charged.
If you’re being hurt
Call Childhelp at 1-800-422-4453 to talk it through, or 911 if you’re in danger right now. Being hit, threatened, sexually abused, or not given food, a safe place to sleep, or medical care is abuse or neglect, and adults are supposed to step in.