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Posts by Shobitha Harinath

Shobitha Harinath is a photographer and writer who explores self-growth, healing, and relationships through personal reflection. Her writing offers a space to understand emotions, connection, and inner transformation. Follow her on Instagram: @maybe_existential.

Grieving the Parents You Needed but Never Had

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“We can’t receive from others what they were never taught to give.” ~Unknown

When I was younger, I believed that love meant being understood. I thought my parents would be there for me, emotionally and mentally. But love, I’ve learned, isn’t always expressed in the ways we need, and not everyone has the tools to give what they never received.

As an adult, I’ve learned something both liberating and heartbreaking: Parents can only give what they have.

I used to get frustrated that my parents couldn’t really understand my mental health struggles. The realization didn’t hit me suddenly. It …