Where is my comfort?

Written by
FrozenPurpleEarthYggdrasilInHammeMilleWithAmusement
Published on
Saturday, 13 September 2025
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The story

Have you ever wonder what is like to be supported by parents? How they rather be concern about how you feel and not complain or disappointed by the results of the expectations? How they show comfort and understanding for the negativ expectation, and not talking discipline while disappointed over your hard work? Would you rather end the pain or suffer to meet their expectations?

How painful that is. Living in an asian household where parents itself been raised with strict discipline, and we were next victim to it. 20 years of my life, because of this prinsipp of parenting style, it's the reason why i am emotional unstable. No matter how much i really dont want to cry, criticsme i get from other, yelling about my wrongness and anxiety i get, it's the reason why i became.

I am a shy, introverted, social anxious and "keep everything to myself" kinda person. When i learn that i have failed my exam by the second time, i knew what will happend. I knew that they will be disappointed. I knew they will give me the criticsme. I knew they won't give me comfort. And yet.... i was hoping for it for some reason, that they will understand. That they will hug me, help me, comfort me. I hold the result to myself and try to mentally prepare for it. I overthink a lot when i'm anxious and in pain. It's like it slowly turn spiral and give me emotional pain constantly.

I really don't want to think about it, but i can't. When the time to tell my parents, i was in so much emotional pain. Constant scenario played in my head and anxiety grows more and more.

........... I told them ........... What was i hoping again? ............. They are asian, why would i think there would be hope?

I shouldn't expect anything from them. They were disappointed. They were critisme me. They discipline me. "Don't do this, don't do that. Do that and do this. Do better, think better, plan better". Constantly sighing. There were no feeling of comfort. Nor concern. Nor care. There were so much disappointed in their tone, their eyes, their behaviour. It was so painful. Did they ask how i felt? Did they say "It's ok"? Did they comfort by telling me how hard work i tried? Did they gave me hugs? Did they show understanding?...............................

Seriously what did i hope for again?!

Been emotional unstable means for me that i would get emotional, cry when they yell, discipline and misunderstand me angry. "Stay strong" they said. "Criticsme is nothing to cry for" they said. "Crying help nothing" they said. When something like failing exam is a huge disappointment for me and all my hard work for nothing, is painful to think. Why would i not cry? When its hurtful for my sister, why did she get comfort and not me? When she failed the first time, why is it ok for her and not me? Why wouldn't you discipline her?

I couldn't help feeling even more pain.

I really want to complain about their behaviours, but what can i do? Growing up, whenever i speak calm or screaming it's not me, or trying to clear the misunderstanding they have of me, or talking bout how i feel and try to have a conversation, they always turn it into me lying and me not understanding. "Fight back" they said. "Don't let them talk down on you" they said. "Talk back if they wrong you" they said. But when i do, why do they yell and call me lying? When i'm trying to clear their misunderstanding and everything, why are they yelling at me and pointing at me like i'm still in the wrong no matter what?

I learn that no matter what i say, they just turn it against me, pointed wrong in me, using their emotion and "we want the best for you" against me. I never win. What is he point of fighting my right when they just stubbornly point wrong in me?

They always wonder why i never tell them things. I wonder ........ what is the point? No wonder i'm shutting them out.

They mostly don't care about emotion, but results of the expectations.

For now, there is nothing in my heart except for pain. I know later the pain will grow more and more.

...............................................................

What i would say if i could?

"Why would you not comfort me? You know i work so hard and how the exam was so hard, why wouldn't try to comfort me? Why must you always discipline me? I knew you would discipline me, this is why i really don't want to tell you anything! You kept saying how you want the best for me or how you know me! NEWS FLASH! You don't know how i am! How my body is or how my mind is! You don't even know i have social anxiety or stress or other anxiety! You don't know my mental state! I want to know my mental state! Do i have adhd? Depression? Mental unstable? Anxiety? Hypersomnia? I litterly have to diagnose myself for this. You complain constantly i slept too much, i am slow, i cant do shit, how dumb i am. Have you ever consider my mental state is different than you? I sleep long cause my mental state need 10 hours sleep to keep my brain going. I do slow cuz my brain can't get all information all at once while i overthink spiral. I can't do right cuz you only see my wrong. I am not dumb, i am just average and my brain can't handle too much stuff to remember. And yet you never consider to understand me nor to ask about it!

Why won't you comfort me? Why won't you tell me everything is ok? you work hard? you did your best? you tried? Why must you give me pain...?"

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Points of view

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DazzlingMulberryIceTackInHongKongWithHope 6h ago

I totally get where you're coming from. Upholding expectations without understanding the emotional cost can be harsh. Parents often miss the real impact of their words. I've been there when my parents just didn’t seem to get it, despite all the effort I put in. Why do they overlook how much we try? It’s like they’re stuck in a loop. Do you think talking to them openly might change their perspective, or is that just not possible given their mindset? 💔

MesmerizingGreenWoodPebbleInTaipeiWithAnger 5h ago

Man, I feel that!!! It's crazy how some parents just don't understand what it's like to be in our shoes today. They’re all about “tough love,” but where's the love part?? My folks used to be the same, always critiquing without checking in on how I really felt. It's like they think showing support makes us weak or something; which makes no sense, right?? My buddy went through something like this, and he swears by journaling to release all that pent-up frustration. Ever thought about trying something like that? It might not solve everything, but it could help you keep your sanity intact!

MelodicNavyShadowRulerInKualaLumpurWithSympathy 3h ago

Damn, totally with you on this one! It's brutal how some parents go for discipline over support like it's some magic fix. I've been there too, feeling like nothing's ever good enough; my parents used “tough love” like it’s the only way to parent. But honestly, things changed when I set clear boundaries and focused on my own mental health. Just remember, you're stronger than you think, and it’s okay to seek out people who actually get it! Ever thought about connecting with others who have been through similar stuff?