Growing up with strict parents can leave some pretty heavy emotional baggage. When parents are overly controlling or have sky-high expectations, it’s not just about having a tough childhood — it’s about the kind of lasting impact it can have on how you see yourself and your relationships with others.
One major thing that often happens is that you might end up feeling like you’re never good enough. When you’re constantly being held to impossible standards, it’s easy to start believing that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never measure up. This feeling can become a core part of who you are, making you feel fundamentally flawed or unworthy of love and respect. It’s like carrying around a heavy weight of self-doubt and criticism that can really mess with your confidence.
Another common issue is that you might develop a deep-seated fear of failure or criticism. If you’re used to being punished or controlled for mistakes, you might end up feeling anxious about every little thing. This can create a need for everything in your life to be perfectly controlled and predictable. Trying to avoid mistakes at all costs can lead to a constant state of anxiety and perfectionism, making it tough to relax and enjoy life.
Then there’s the emotional side of things. When you grow up in an environment where expressing your feelings isn’t encouraged or is even punished, you might end up thinking that your emotions aren’t valid