@matthiasjbarker: When you’ve got a dad who’s absent and a mom who’s overly present, it sets up a really tough dynamic for a kid to grow up in. Dad’s absence sends the message, “You’re not valuable enough for me to stick around*,*” while mom’s over-involvement puts you on a pedestal, making you feel like “you’re her whole world.” And so on the outside, you might come across as confident or even arrogant, but on the inside, you’re likely struggling with insecurity and imposter syndrome. The thing is, these are two separate wounds: one from a mother who used her child to heal her own pain, and the other from a father who left to deal with his own pain. It’s not just your “ego” or “insecurity”—it’s two different wounds that need to be unpacked and understood on their own. #mentalhealth #trauma #mentalhealthawareness #parenthood #parents #healing #emotionalwounds #healingjourney