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When You're Cold And Empty Towards "family" And "love"

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J_trustno1

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Over the years, I have learned that there was no warmth in the family. The word "love" didn't exist in my family's dictionary. It was all about taunting on another, put downs, swearing at women, beating/berating women, hate for the girl child so I was pretty much non-existent or unwanted child.

Anyway, let's not get carried away from the topic. So today I was given a task to do for my mother and I was simply doing it as a duty but had no feelings or eagerness to do it. I usually love doing things that I am given (i.e. study or work tasks) but when it comes to my mum or other family members, I have no compassion or warmth instead I do them just as a duty or a role to fulfill it. She was standing right next to me in my room when I was filling out this form for her but I told her to give me some space because I felt she was spying over me when she in fact wasn't.

Other story that is mostly related to my mum about 12 years ago when I was 15 years old. That time I worked at the supermarket and I was being paid $5.60 an hour and after tax it was less than $5. So when mother's day arrived that year I bought my mother this Jacket for $50, which cost me more than 10 hours of standing at a supermarket checkout and doing other tasks such as cleaning etc and also listening to people's shit. To me the gift for her was my thought and love for her. Guess what she's done? She returned the jacket and got the $50 voucher instead. There was no f*cking appreciation for my thought, my love or warmth instead she said she hated the jacket. I was very hurt that day. I even bought her a flower bouquet but ever since then I stopped buying her anything instead I gave her money because I know she will NEVER appreciate my feelings or thoughts and I was WASTING my bloody time on her.

Then comes the time when I was forced into child labor and my mother never stood up for me, instead I was standing up for her when she was being treated like crap. My mother used to protest against me whenever I rebelled or tried speaking back to my asshole abusers. She always made me shut up AND NOW I have NO f*ckING feelings left for her. I'm just numb and cold to the words "family and love", These words mean nothing to me in the context of family!

Does anyone else feel cold and numb towards their abusers or family or whoever never appreciated them?

P.S. I always want space from my biological family because I simply feel that they are NOT worth my compassion.
 
Absolutely. I think many of us do, especially when it comes to family members being complicit, or willfully ignorant, of our abuse...and/or responsible for it. I know exactly what you mean. I have fond memories of my mother, and gratitude towards her, for the things she's done for me, and on my behalf. But warmth...no. And it does bother me.
 
I'm sorry to hear your story. It can be very hurtful when a family member rejects our attempts at showing love. I also had my Dad immediately return a gift I used all my savings to buy him. He later told me that from now on I should just give him gift cards.

Fundamentally, I know we must be able to love again and feel compassion and warmth, even if we choose to keep a healthy distance from our abusers. A book that has helped me greatly is called "Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships: Healing the Wound of the Heart" by John Welwood. It speaks of all types of relationships, both romantic and familial. He has some powerful exercises that help open you up to love and warmth. There is also an audio version of him working through this process via a workshop. Best of luck to you.
 
I quit buying gifts for my family years ago. It's not that anyone is cruel about it. It's just that no one cares.

Mother's day is coming up tomorrow here and I will give the obligatory call, but that's more for by brother's sake. He doesn't like it when I don't do the little rituals because then she goes to him and whines.

I call my father once in a while. However, that's obligatory too. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who calls anyone. I'm angry again.

Point is, I'm getting better at putting my time and effort to work where it matters. Thanks for your post @Link Removed
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Better to be angry than to be abused, or forgotten.
 
I so relate to this. No warmth or love, just neglect and I was my mothers indentured slave. I left my family when I went to college. I am dreading Morhers Day because the whole clan is going to dinner18 people. My plan is to avoid them-just go off to my safe place. There will be lots of insults to listen to, I know my children love me but they will be busy with visiting their cousins and I have one nephew that is an awesome person and super entertaining. I'll be glad when it's over.
 
OMG - can I relate to this. I feel as though I have completely run out of warmth. I spent so many years chasing after family, being the 'good girl', and being ultra responsible for everyone, and neglecting myself. My parents are both gone now, and it's only my sister - who is 10 years older than I am - and me.

I spent so many years thinking my sister was the greatest, and wanting so much to be like her - smart, beautiful and sophisticated. Now I can't stand her. She is the one who now gushes about how I am her best friend, and the only person she feels close to. What a joke. She lives half the country away, and when I talk to her on the phone, it's all about her. She will ask me a question, and then not wait for the answer, or talk over me if I do try to respond. She chatters on and on and on about things, but she has no idea what is going on in my life - partly because she doesn't stop talking long enough for me to answer. I stopped telling her what things are going on in my life, because she doesn't really listen anyway.

I feel so bad that I am so cold, but I don't see any alternative.
 
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