Search Results for: emotional abuse

“We Are Spartacus!”: Open Thread & Resources On Family Estrangement And Adult Relationships With Difficult Parents

~ JenniferP ~ 423 Comments

Whenever I write about difficult parent stuff (like yesterday) my inbox immediately gets filled with more difficult parent and family estrangement stuff, which makes sense because, people find out they aren’t alone and I have quite a lot to say about difficult parent stuff. It takes…a lot…to write about my family and I know I … Continue reading “We Are Spartacus!”: Open Thread & Resources On Family Estrangement And Adult Relationships With Difficult Parents

#1222: “Love my family, hate my mean red-pilling brother who is always around.”

~ JenniferP

Behind a cut for emotional abuse, misogyny, and discussion of these things as specifically related to recent gun violence and the possibility thereof, which is not what the Letter Writer asked, but definitely something I saw in the question. I did a giant dump of cat photos for patrons if you need to click on … Continue reading #1222: “Love my family, hate my mean red-pilling brother who is always around.”

#1218: “Irritability and constant criticism in a marriage.”

~ JenniferP ~ 315 Comments

Dear Captain, My husband (he / him / his) is extremely smart and good in his job, has a close relationship with his sister, and good at figuring out mechanical challenges (e.g., setting up a new type of tent) patiently and thoroughly. But I can’t bear the constant criticism. He’s always miffed about something. It … Continue reading #1218: “Irritability and constant criticism in a marriage.”

#1209: “Is there a way to get good at setting boundaries that isn’t so situation-specific?” (Boundaries School!)

~ JenniferP ~ 365 Comments

Hello, Captain! Could you talk about how to be good at setting boundaries in a non-situation-specific way? You get a lot of letters from people who are having trouble with someone else not respecting their boundaries, and obviously that is not the time to say “are you sure you really communicated what you meant?” But … Continue reading #1209: “Is there a way to get good at setting boundaries that isn’t so situation-specific?” (Boundaries School!)

Books: “What My Mother And I Don’t Talk About: Fifteen Writers Break the Silence”

~ JenniferP

“Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to give this book to my mother. To present it to her as a precious gift over a meal that I’ve cooked for her. To say: Here is everything that keeps us from really talking. Here is my heart. Here are my words. I wrote this for … Continue reading Books: “What My Mother And I Don’t Talk About: Fifteen Writers Break the Silence”

#1149: “We decided to leave our abusive ex and move to another state, only she came with us and is living on our couch?”

~ JenniferP

This letter contains emotional abuse of people, potential physical harm of animals (now stopped/interrupted/not ongoing/the animals are ok for now!, but still I know some people can’t safely read about that), and enough WHAT THE FUCK that you’ll need a comfy chair and a cold washcloth, at minimum. If you want the teachable moment without … Continue reading #1149: “We decided to leave our abusive ex and move to another state, only she came with us and is living on our couch?”

Short Answer Friday/Chat for September 14

~ JenniferP ~ 143 Comments

Hello everyone! We’re doing the thing today, where people can submit short questions at Patreon or on Twitter (@CAwkward, #awkwardfriday) before noon Chicago time and I will answer as many as I can this afternoon between noon and 2pm. Comments get turned on once everything is posted Please enjoy this artsy photo of Daniel Striped … Continue reading Short Answer Friday/Chat for September 14

#1135: “My dad wants to fix our relationship, and I don’t.”

~ JenniferP ~ 145 Comments

Hi Captain Awkward, Let’s call me Elizabeth. My dad and I have a strained relationship, and was not really much in my life for a good year thanks to my decision to have little to no contact. Why? He’s an emotional abuser, and so for the sake of my health I made boundaries. Just getting … Continue reading #1135: “My dad wants to fix our relationship, and I don’t.”