Anonymous wrote:In the example provided, why not just accept that they are emotionally limited and cant support you in this way? FWIW I have not leaned on my parents for emotional support since my early 20s, so I am having trouble understanding why you can’t have a relationship with them otherwise. I do not mean to be mean. On the contrary, I see two scenarios, one in which you accept your parents and one in which you shut them out. In both scenarios you get zero emotional support from them, but in the former you can at least engage with them, do holidays, etc.
Have you worked with a therapist on this?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op again and now that I think about their relationships with all the people in their lives, I think every one of them is a surface one, no more the kind of relationship with the occasional handymen you call, or your local librarian, no wonder they treat me like that too, they probably don’t even think people could have any other kind of relationship, like the bird trapped in a water well thinks the sky is only the size of the well opening. This isn’t their fault, but it’s still not okay.
So what? Who are you to decide what closeness or intimacy someone else needs or wants? Get a therapy dog or something. You sound incredibly needy and clingy. A lot of people don’t want what you want.
I agree, some people are abusers and they enjoy it. Some rape little kids, who are we to say they are wrong or bad? They just have different needs.
And some troll boards like this for fun or they have mental disorders and even their own family can’t stand them.
You got a mirror in front of you?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is weird -- someone in my life posted a rant on Facebook using a lot of the same terminology. I know this is not the same person. But is everyone reading the same self-help book?
This thread has less discussion of “enmeshed” family members and narcissism but it’s the same word cloud.
Lots of People with boomer parents experience similar neglect or abuse but it’s not the boomers fault; Or you could say lots of boomers’ children are mentally ill lunatics and it’s not the boomers fault.
I’m not giving boomers a pass. I am suggesting that some of this language is trendy and that some mental health terms are applied haphazardly.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is weird -- someone in my life posted a rant on Facebook using a lot of the same terminology. I know this is not the same person. But is everyone reading the same self-help book?
This thread has less discussion of “enmeshed” family members and narcissism but it’s the same word cloud.
Lots of People with boomer parents experience similar neglect or abuse but it’s not the boomers fault; Or you could say lots of boomers’ children are mentally ill lunatics and it’s not the boomers fault.
Anonymous wrote:In the example provided, why not just accept that they are emotionally limited and cant support you in this way? FWIW Ihave not leaned on my parents for emotional support since my early 20s, so I am having trouble understanding why you can’t have a relationship with them otherwise. I do not mean to be mean. On the contrary, I see two scenarios, one in which you accept your parents and one in which you shut them out. In both scenarios you get zero emotional support from them, but in the former you can at least engage with them, do holidays, etc.
Have you worked with a therapist on this?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is weird -- someone in my life posted a rant on Facebook using a lot of the same terminology. I know this is not the same person. But is everyone reading the same self-help book?
This thread has less discussion of “enmeshed” family members and narcissism but it’s the same word cloud.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op again and now that I think about their relationships with all the people in their lives, I think every one of them is a surface one, no more the kind of relationship with the occasional handymen you call, or your local librarian, no wonder they treat me like that too, they probably don’t even think people could have any other kind of relationship, like the bird trapped in a water well thinks the sky is only the size of the well opening. This isn’t their fault, but it’s still not okay.
So what? Who are you to decide what closeness or intimacy someone else needs or wants? Get a therapy dog or something. You sound incredibly needy and clingy. A lot of people don’t want what you want.
I agree, some people are abusers and they enjoy it. Some rape little kids, who are we to say they are wrong or bad? They just have different needs.
And some troll boards like this for fun or they have mental disorders and even their own family can’t stand them.
Anonymous wrote:This is weird -- someone in my life posted a rant on Facebook using a lot of the same terminology. I know this is not the same person. But is everyone reading the same self-help book?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You have a weird idea of no contact. Stop contacting them if you want to be no contact.
The interactions described was before NC. - OP
But you want to contact them again to explain no contact. Leave them alone. And also they gave you the TL, DR treatment because 5 pages (was it front and back?) might have been too much.
Because I love them, and their time on earth is getting shorter and shorter, and it makes me sad, but yes, you are correct. - OP
It's just not that easy to let go
It sounds like you want to punish them. Not like you're trying to protect yourself.
Do you spend a lot of time consuming social media/tiktok posts about going no contact? Have you romanticized it? Do you have some script in your head for what it looks like?
THIS! Gray rock should be to protect yourself and you just want to punish your parents. You want them to know what they did was wrong, which is actually hurting you even further.
OPs parents are gray rocking OP. And OP is spiraling like many people who are subjected to gray rock do.
OP will not and cannot gray rock her parents, because that is not satisfying to her, and actually I suspect would be an outcome her parents would welcome, given that they are clearly doing the same to her.
Op here, Omg what in the world ?! My parents are the exact opposite of grey rocking me. If they did at least I would let feel they faking loving me, I’d give them credit for being truthful and consistent. No, they think we are very close.
Gently, I don’t think you understand what gray rocking is. They are clearly gray rocking you. In fact, that is consistent with them feeling close. They are not engaging with your drama, but are staying neutral and steady as a rock, because they value you.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op again and now that I think about their relationships with all the people in their lives, I think every one of them is a surface one, no more the kind of relationship with the occasional handymen you call, or your local librarian, no wonder they treat me like that too, they probably don’t even think people could have any other kind of relationship, like the bird trapped in a water well thinks the sky is only the size of the well opening. This isn’t their fault, but it’s still not okay.
So what? Who are you to decide what closeness or intimacy someone else needs or wants? Get a therapy dog or something. You sound incredibly needy and clingy. A lot of people don’t want what you want.
I agree, some people are abusers and they enjoy it. Some rape little kids, who are we to say they are wrong or bad? They just have different needs.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Op again and now that I think about their relationships with all the people in their lives, I think every one of them is a surface one, no more the kind of relationship with the occasional handymen you call, or your local librarian, no wonder they treat me like that too, they probably don’t even think people could have any other kind of relationship, like the bird trapped in a water well thinks the sky is only the size of the well opening. This isn’t their fault, but it’s still not okay.
So what? Who are you to decide what closeness or intimacy someone else needs or wants? Get a therapy dog or something. You sound incredibly needy and clingy. A lot of people don’t want what you want.