Hello Pam, I hope my note doesn't in any way trigger you. I want to make two points that you might find helpful. Perhaps you are not as alone as you think you are as far as not having your mother there to teach you to bake, etc. My mother was a paranoid schizophrenic and didn't teach me anything either. I started first grade without knowing how to read, write or 'rithmetic. Try not to feel so all alone in this hon.... I don't know if you wi,l find this helpful.
The other thing is about your dad. First you were (rightfully) angry about his criticism, then wondered if he's actually a nice guy. Boy can I relate. My mother was the most caring person I had in my life, and gave me my good sense of humor, but when she was in a psychotic state her eyes would literally turn black and the insane center accusations started (apparently I was out having sex in high school, when actually I am a lesbian, big serious lesbian who turned 57 today. She also was handy with knives, and I'll leave it at that. So when I tried to figure out how I felt about her, it was a big lie. Did I hate her? Well yes, she was violent and scary. But I loved her too. So did that mean I loved her? Well yes, but that knife thing .... I realized I felt both emotions almost equally, and stopped torturing myself by thinking it had to be one or the other. I think this helped me.
Thank you for reading this, and I wish you the absolute best. I am just beginning this journey and feel so broken inside, but Jesus learning about c-ptsd means I finally know where my emotional issues come from.
The other thing is about your dad. First you were (rightfully) angry about his criticism, then wondered if he's actually a nice guy. Boy can I relate. My mother was the most caring person I had in my life, and gave me my good sense of humor, but when she was in a psychotic state her eyes would literally turn black and the insane center accusations started (apparently I was out having sex in high school, when actually I am a lesbian, big serious lesbian who turned 57 today. She also was handy with knives, and I'll leave it at that. So when I tried to figure out how I felt about her, it was a big lie. Did I hate her? Well yes, she was violent and scary. But I loved her too. So did that mean I loved her? Well yes, but that knife thing .... I realized I felt both emotions almost equally, and stopped torturing myself by thinking it had to be one or the other. I think this helped me.
Thank you for reading this, and I wish you the absolute best. I am just beginning this journey and feel so broken inside, but Jesus learning about c-ptsd means I finally know where my emotional issues come from.