Has anyone out there ever experienced severe emotional abuse from a parent? My family had a really rough time back in 2001, driving my mother to reach for the bottle whenever she got home to relieve stress. Us kids were too young to drown our problems this way so we had to deal with our own emotional turmoils as well as her verbal attacks on us when drunk. This went on for many years (Actually I think 3 but it felt longer) until I aged and matured more and just stopped fighting her. My brother is now the same age I was when this all started and I can see the exact same patterns in his behaviour. I live 400 km away now and I fear he'll be just as emotionally scarred as I.

My question is: Has anyone experienced similar situations? How did you deal with it? Did you deal with it at all or just leave as I have done? Would greatly appreciate any answers you could share! Thanks!

I deal with emotional abuse everyday that I'm with my mother. I can not leave, even though I would give all of my limbs to get away from her. I'm practically her verbal punching bag. In her eyes I need to grow up, I'll never amount to anything in my life, and of course I'm stupid. My needs are not as high of a priority as hers and my sister's. I just take it and deal with it by crying, cutting myself, and/or drinking. Good times.