I had no clue until now😳

By the time these children become adults, they are likely to either stop calling their parents or simply keep the relationship and the conversations on surface level. What’s more, they won’t do this in order to hurt their parents, but as a way to make sure they won’t be hurt any further.

Overcoming this issue is certainly possible, but it’s a two-way street that requires looking back at those past experiences and creating a new space where the real talk would be welcomed instead of being dismissed.

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Parental Narcissism

It becomes a constant battle to build a healthy and balanced relationship when the parent puts their own needs and emotions before their children’s.

Rather than being a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear, the narcissistic parent could simply brush off the child’s emotions or turn defensive as soon as they are criticized. This creates a huge divide between the two, as children of narcissistic parents tend to feel invisible as they grow up, and as adults, they begin to distance themselves as a way of maintaining their own peace of mind.

As to the clinical aspect of all this, the picture is rather clear. Research from the American Psychological Association illustrates the damage a lack of empathy from parents can cause to emotional development and ultimately to relationships. When you’re not really “heard” as a child, it’s not easy to feel “safe” being close to someone as an adult.