Most parents want to do their best when raising and providing for their children. Many often worry that they may project their own traumas and bad memories onto their child through toxic behaviors. As your child grows, it is crucial to take care of yourself to ensure that they are in a safe, healthy, and loving home. However, there may be times when the unhealed parts of yourself may boil to the surface and come out in toxic behaviors. If you want to avoid being a toxic parent, it is essential to know its signs.
Lack of Empathy
Toxic individuals often do not have the emotional capacity to empathize with others. They often see themselves as the victim and make every situation about themselves rather than looking out for the needs and wants of others. When they engage in toxic behaviors, they are often blind to it and deny that they act in hurtful ways.
Overly Critical
Toxic parents typically overlook their children’s achievements and instead focus on every mistake. No matter how accomplished the child is, toxic parents will continuously put them down while “hyping up” their own accomplishments and putting themselves on a pedestal.
Volatile Emotions
Lashing out at others is a common characteristic of toxic parents, as they tend to overreact to minor issues. If something goes wrong or they perceive something as rude, they typically react in an extremely volatile way. This can be in hostile, abusive, angry, or destructive actions.
Extremely Controlling
Toxic parents want to control every aspect of their children’s lives. This behavior can make them come across as a “helicopter parent” that monitors everything their child does. Whether their child is still a minor or is now an adult, it is not uncommon for toxic parents to continue trying to control their lives.
Toxic parents are, unfortunately, more common than you might think. They often form out of unresolved traumas and perpetuate the cycle of toxicity and abuse in their own lives. This is especially true for men, as stigmas surrounding going to therapy can cause many not to seek the help they need. However, healing is necessary to break the cycle of toxicity and abuse. At Alta Loma Transformational Services, we can help you break the cycle and become the parent you are proud to be. Contact us today at (866) 457-3843 to learn about our programs and how you can heal to become a better father.
