Most people associate childhood with comfort. With bedtime stories, safe arms, and being told they’re loved just for existing. But not everyone grows up that way. For some, childhood was a constant calculation – figuring out which version of their mother they’d face, and how to survive her.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “emotional child abuse means injuring a child’s self-esteem or emotional well-being. It includes verbal and emotional assault – such as continually belittling or berating a child – as well as isolating, ignoring or rejecting a child.”
And when that abuse comes from your mother, the one person who should love you unconditionally, it leaves a wound that hides in plain sight.
Let’s review some common signs of emotional abuse.
1. She isolated you
If someone liked you, she questioned their motives. If you grew close to a friend, she’d find a reason to disapprove. Little by little, she chipped away at your relationships until you felt like she was the only one you could really rely on. That kind of isolation didn’t just happen – it was control, carefully disguised as concern.
2. Guilt was her go-to weapon
She rarely needed to raise her voice. A sigh, a look of disappointment, or a quiet reminder of everything she’d sacrificed was often enough to make you feel guilty for even thinking of saying no. Obedience wasn’t something she asked for – it was expected. Not because of respect, but because guilt made it easier to give in. Eventually, her feelings always took priority over your own.
