14 Signs You Were Raised By Highly Critical Parents

People who grow up being constantly criticized might develop specific coping behaviors to handle stress. These can range from always striving for perfection to feeling defensive. Here are 14 signs you might have grown up with highly critical parents:

You tend to be a perfectionist

People who were criticized for everything as children grow up to value perfection. Such people hardly put a toe out of line or do things carelessly because they’re afraid of being called out for mistakes and accidents.

You feel defensive

Overly-criticized children typically lack support, so they make up for it by being overly defensive adults. Such people must correct every minor detail and panic to defend themselves when things turn sour.

You rarely believe compliments

Children who grew up listening to insults or negative comments struggle to accept positivity. Such people think every compliment is a backhanded insult or feel like the person appreciating them isn’t being truthful.

You have social anxiety

Being constantly criticized and shamed makes people overly conscious of their actions, increasing social anxiety and fear of public spaces. Such people struggle to be confident in social settings because they constantly feel like they’re being observed.

You constantly apologize

Similarly, people who are declared disappointing feel like everything is their fault. They begin to apologize for minor mistakes and sometimes even for things that weren’t their fault, which increases their anxiety and puts them in unease.

You overthink things

Criticized children often grow up to overanalyze situations because they’re trying to figure out ways to tackle disappointments. Such people also draw up scenarios to see if they’re in the clear and may overcomplicate situations.

You feel the need to prove yourself

People who were constantly ridiculed or criticized as a child want to prove their worth to others, so they continuously feel like they need to do something significant. You begin to question your achievements and are constantly looking for better opportunities.

You’re a people pleaser

Some people can’t help but shape their behavior and actions to please others. This might be because they’re afraid of letting down their loved ones, probably stemming from a childhood full of scoldings and cold states.

You can’t take on new challenges

You may struggle to step into new territories because you’re afraid of messing things up. People with traumatic childhoods may not like the idea of navigating unknown challenges or don’t want to repeat their experiences.

You can’t forgive yourself

You can’t help but worry about past mistakes. You struggle to move on with life because the guilt is too overwhelming and weighs you down. This is all a sign that you wish you could reverse time because you were made to feel so.

You can’t trust yourself

People who criticize or nitpick other’s actions and behaviors end up reducing their confidence. Their victims struggle to accept themselves and are constantly battling to figure out if they’re worth it.

You don’t trust others

People who were criticized may misunderstand genuine interests and feel wary of everyone. They’re afraid to be hurt again, so they refuse to take risks and end up being critical of everyone around them.

Difficulty In Expressing Opinions

Growing up with parents who constantly criticized you might make you hesitant to express your feelings or share your opinions. You live with the constant fear of being ridiculed, so you keep things to yourself only.

Fear Of Failure

The fear of making mistakes or failing can lead to avoiding new experiences. Being criticized in childhood might make you feel left out in your career and hinder you from achieving your goals.