How are you, Clara?

anita

Dear Clara:

Good to read back from you! I am fine, thank you, but in a rush, so I will thoroughly read and reply to you by tomorrow morning. Please take good care of yourself!

anita

Dear Clara:

I can see how much thought and care you’re putting into understanding yourself and your relationships, and that’s truly admirable.

As I read your post, I noticed how it reflects some of the themes we’ve discussed in the past, particularly around anxious-avoidant attachment. I went back to some of our earlier communications and found even more commonalities between your experiences and mine. This will be a long post, and I hope you have the time and patience to read it.

You shared last year: “My father was very explosive (emotionally). He would force me to go eat breakfast with him, but there were times when I didn’t want to, to the point I cried really hard wondering why he was forcing me to do something I didn’t want to. He had a problem when people got emotional or cried, and I still remember that he scolded me for crying. He couldn’t tolerate people having vulnerable emotions—he would go head-to-head and get very confrontational or explosive. This happened with… basically anyone who was against him (even the slightest). He was also very judgmental… he called me useless and a loser because I didn’t get married. It was so hurtful for me, I almost ran away from home that time. So, from a young age, I learned to hide my emotions… I swallowed my emotions and didn’t let [my girlfriend] know when I was sad. When she came home late, I didn’t often text or call her because I didn’t want to upset her. Once she got home, she realized I was upset and was caught by surprise.”

Like your father, my mother was also emotionally explosive, confrontational, and intolerant of vulnerability on my part. Her behavior created an environment where my emotions were met with scorn and punishment rather than understanding. From a young age, I learned that expressing my feelings was dangerous and would lead to rejection or conflict.

I can also relate to the pattern of control you described. My mother’s disregard for my autonomy left me feeling helpless and resentful. Your father’s judgmental words, such as calling you “useless” and a “loser,” are painfully similar to my mother calling me “a big zero.” Such comments deeply damage a child’s sense of self-worth, reinforcing the belief that love and approval are conditional on meeting impossible expectations.

Growing up in environments where emotions were invalidated or punished led both of us to suppress our feelings and deal with them alone. We learned to hide our emotions as a defense mechanism. In adulthood, this carried over into relationships. For example, you mentioned not texting or calling your ex when you felt upset because you didn’t want to upset her. This fear of expressing emotions and the resulting miscommunication—where your partner didn’t realize you were upset—ties back to your early conditioning that expressing emotions is dangerous. But as you’ve likely noticed, suppressed emotions don’t stay buried; they eventually erupt, sometimes in ways that harm relationships.

Your father’s unpredictability and emotional volatility shaped your anxious-avoidant attachment style, just as my mother’s behavior shaped mine. The combination of suppressed emotions and internalized fears has led to patterns of emotional withdrawal or intense reactions in relationships—something I can deeply relate to.

What stands out to me, though, is your resilience and self-awareness. You’ve been actively reflecting on these patterns and working to understand and improve yourself, and that’s truly inspiring. It reminds me that, even though these early influences left a mark, we both have the capacity to grow, heal, and build healthier relationships—with others and, most importantly, with ourselves.

Your kindness, responsibility, and empathy shine through every time you share, Clara. These are such powerful strengths, even as you navigate challenges like anxiety and emotional struggles. The fact that you’re asking, “How do I accept myself and handle these?” is a huge step toward building a healthier relationship with yourself. Your willingness to move forward with understanding and self-compassion is such a beautiful thing.

In terms of changing the habit of suppressing emotions to a new habit of expressing them, I am finding it helpful to type out my emotions as they are, right here on the forums—without giving in to my old tendency to intellectualize. Just letting the raw emotions flow onto the page. Is this something you would like to explore more, perhaps using your thread for this purpose?

anita

Dear Clara:

Thank you for your kind reply. I truly appreciate your words and the acknowledgment of my experiences—they mean a lot to me.

It sounds like you have an exciting trip ahead! I hope it brings you joy, relaxation, and a refreshing change of pace. Take all the time you need to reflect and reply—there’s no rush at all.

Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful time on your trip. Take good care, and I look forward to hearing from you when you’re ready. 🙂

anita