Is it normal that my parents downgrading me?

a quick background of my family, my parents are both old about 60-70 years old in range, i'm the only child 21 years old male.my parents are both religously devoted and aggresively fanatic and my parents work as a doctor, but my father retired because of age. our socioeconomic status is lower that of a normal doctors. my parents are obsessed in degrading our financial status because of religious belief to surrender all your wealth and materialistic attitude so the result is there is no surplus budget at all, we even don't have a permanent house to live in, we only rented a house owned by the hospital. we live in a city like environment. the point is they are both doctors so my expectation on them must be like a doctor's' status.

I’m worried ever since about my parents that they are not treating me to be a normal adult because they’re blinded by our religious teachings (fanaticism) and forcibly applying it to me when I’m really not into it because (mostly it will not improve my future because it hinders worldly norms that also affect my acceptance in work, friends, family in the future ), it really affects my attitude and my whole view towards them (full of negative thoughts and estrangement) in which I can’t cooperate because i know it's still useless to cooperate with them because their belief is fixed and closed minded.

They always criticizing me because in their mind I’m doing the wrong things (against our religious views) in which i did not do any major wrongdoings and I’m not interested do any of those wrongdoings, I’m old enough to know what is right and wrong,
I’m just trying to be normal, in fact they’re treatment (ever since I’m young) did affect my personality a lot and I’m afraid of the outcome in the future. For example my passiveness, Lack of social interaction to others, Anxiety, stress, avoidant personality and Frustration. many more to mention. I lack in social life because my parents are anti-social but i have few friends. my parents are too strict about social life they want to incorporate religion in my social life because of this im afraid to make new friends because i'm afraid what im gonna say to them about my parents and i'm afraid that my parents will judge them.

I actually realized that my education (my habit of study) during my high school to my college years is really affected by their attitude towards myself which is why I’m having low grades. I’m not interested in studying at home because the aura here is discouraging. They said "in the future all this education thing will be all useless because God will already be coming back and life and work here in earth will be useless" unless I obey my parents will to become a “missionary worker” which I don’t like and discourages me subconsciously to continue studying. by the way i graduated college in a low standard religious school, they chose over a low standard religious school over a higher standard government school? what kind of a highly intellectual parents are they?

There is a barrier in our relationship with my parents because they're trying to set a pessimistic argument in what i'm doing, which I can't talk back because they're trying to close the statements so no openness in my own views and opinions (just like communism works). I think they don't want me to talk openly to them because for them openness means freedom for me which i oppose.

My health is also deteriorating because I feel I’m stressed/pressured all the time. I’m not getting stout even I’m eating allot because of this. I loss weight faster than gaining. At home they want me to be vegetarian, for me its ok but I need the essentials like meat, cheese produce for protein and fat so that I can gain weight faster but they are trying to disapprove what I want too eat. (more like "jewish diet" no oil, mostly no salt, no dairy, pure vegetables mostly raw, bland beans and unsatisfying drink)

I’m not in rebellion or the like but I just want to have a positive normal life which I’m hoping for someday to happen because it’s a struggle for me everyday in coping up if this will be happening all of the time.
Suppose to be parents must be the one that will bring happiness and success to their children but their not doing so, they are too passive and doing it in reverse ( degrading me ). why are they doing this to me, is this normal? this is really not normal for me i just want an advice.

Voting Results
29% Normal
Based on 14 votes (4 yes)
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Comments ( 13 )
  • Ellenna

    Having been brought up by fundamentalist christian parents, I feel for you.

    Whatever religion your parents have been brainwashing you with, there'll be a support group for people in recovery from this - get googling and find some support from other people who've managed to break free

    Good luck

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    • gum3rdm

      ive got an action plan just recently pop out of my mind, i want to get help from my relatives and im gonna expose what my parents are actually doing to me, for all those year my relatives chatting and talking to my parent,s they did not exchange proper parenting advises because my parents just don't want any advises that contradict their beliefs somehow these advises are the proper guidelines in parenting but they just disregard it, sad

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  • gum3rdm

    have you guys read the book Shame & Guilt: Masters of Disguise? this is really interesting

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  • chained_rage

    Downgrading???

    So.. like.. you were a whole person and they downgraded you to half a person?

    oh my glob, they turned you into a midget?! :O

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    • gum3rdm

      just a summary 5-12 years old (the time where you learn around the wonders of this earth ) thats the time were i realized that world is good and ambitions are sprouting "i want to be a doctor! or an engineer! or a scientist" then came 13-18 ( time were peer pressure, bullying, and lots of temptations lucky i got thru that because i somehow know how to deal with it and during high school i graduated in a secular school not a RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. 19-25+ ( the time when your cognitive learning matures and the your insight and learning on how life should be) so this is the time when they put me up and enrolled me in a religious low standard school, i cant stand on how they see me as a worldly person im just doing my thing to live a normal happy life and the they just force me to live in a medieval kind of life?

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  • reminiscent

    there comes a point in time when you can no longer blame your parents.
    your life is yours...you are 21 years old now, and you need to accept responsibility for things.
    you can take responsibility for your own education now.

    thing is if your still living with them inside of their home you need to respect their lifestyle. You are 21 if there is something you dont like then move out.
    you cant eat what you wish outside of the house...at a friends house or go to a store and buy your own food. just dont disrespect them by bringing it into the home.

    really this is just one long complaint about parents who have a different lifestyle...just move out and become more independent. their house their rules. they are not forcing you to stay there....you can move out anytime.

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    • Mario24

      I was about to advice him the same and I saw your comment. Yes . you are right.

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    • Ellenna

      You are oversimplifying the effect a brainwashing religion can have on the children of parents like OP's and underestimating how difficult it is to break free from what is in fact a cult.

      Even adults who enter cults of their own free will have huge difficulties getting out and OP has been brainwashed for all of his/her life.

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      • reminiscent

        omg your comparing his parents to a cult?

        his parents decided they wanted to live a certain lifestyle. they dont want a lot of money...they want to be vegan. they think missionary work is important. They just raised him differently... as every parent has a right to do.

        Any parent instills in their children all of their views and beliefs...or lack of beliefs. Just because parents are religious does not = cult and brainwashing.

        every child at some point grows up and can start deciding for themselves. Parents will always have "advice" "criticism" of their children.

        i mean honestly. this is what i read...i like materialistic things but my parents dont have extra money for all the things i want. I dont have the same religious views as my parents. everything they did shaped my personality. everything they did ruined my education. They ruined my health. Parents are supposed to give me all my happiness and success.

        his parents arnt normal no. but thats just the hand he was dealt.
        he is 21 now. its not his parents fault anymore. The way he is now is his own doing. If he doesnt like his personality... work on changing himself one step at a time...go out and make new friends... get a job to buy things he likes... study online...learn something new every day...talk to a doctor on what his body needs to feel healthier...listen to doctor and eat the foods he likes... most importantly move out and find happiness and success on your own. you will value it more when you arnt given it just work hard.

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        • gum3rdm

          my parents wouldn't allow me get to out in this filthy world they say. im not living in america when you can actually get out of your parents home after 18, im living in Philippines where religious fundamentalist parents are rampant because of poverty, lack of social welfare, under urbanized, under civilized, rapid spread of religion and the gap of wealth status.

          i don't know why cant they make me a better person yet my cousins did made it despite our anti-worldly religion the point is you don't choke religion in the mouths of your children instead you instill values using what can the religion offer just a matter on how you provide the right amount of religious stuff rather than forcing it.

          an example from some article in the net

          Falling into the temptation of using religion to control their children through guilt and shame.

          “Jesus is watching you!” Even the best parents can find themselves wanting some divine backup in a conflict with their children. However, using God for intimidation in a conflict with children has two major issues. First, it means children are associating God as “against them.” Second, it means that the parent is not building a personal relationship of trust with the child. It is better for parents to use their faith to help the child understand the reason the parent, themselves, act the way they do. We need more of “God gave you to me and I am doing my best to honor that gift by raising you well.” We need less of “God says to obey me, and you are disobeying God.”

          The parents seem to be afraid of the world, instead of empowered to live in it.

          Christians see themselves as “apart from the world,” but that is so we can help the world, not be afraid of it. Christian parents who constantly talk about the world as an evil, malevolent, and dangerous place which must be avoid as much as possible, it paints a grim view of the future for young adults wanting to find their own place in life. If a parent lives in fear of the world, the children will pick up on that and will naturally seek alternative beliefs. Christ did not give us a spirit of fear of the world, but compassion for it.

          The children do not see the parents drawing any joy from their faith.

          If a parent’s religion is maintained out of guilt and obligation, their children will pick-up on that burden. If parents are full of joy, love, and enthusiasm for their faith and community, their children will pick-up on that as well. How a parent behaves in their faith is more important than what they tell their children about their faith. A parent can be the best apologetics scholar in the world, they will not win over their child while they are spiritually depressed.

          The children are discouraged from finding answers to their questions.

          Each generation of young Christians are going to challenge their parents with new questions about Christianity in the modern world. It is impossible for parents to prepare for or know all the answers for these questions. The only way to address this need is for parents to ask these questions with their children. Parents who ignore, suppress, brush off, or give trite simplistic answers to their children’s questions are at risk of greatly frustrating them. No one needs to have all the answers. Children will not only respect a “I don’t know, let’s find out together,” they will remember such journey’s for the rest of their lives. It is also the most powerful opportunity for a parent to grow in their faith, to experience Christianity again through young eyes.

          The children believe they have nothing to offer the Christian community.

          Parents who are engaged and active in a church community are more likely to have children who find ways to participate in the Christian community at large. Parents and churches have a responsibility to help children know they have gifts, talents, and inspiration that are not only welcome in the community, they are vital to it. If children feel like Christianity is just following other people, it will not be relevant to them as they grow. Christianity needs to be understood as something we all work together to build.

          <a href="http://www.redletterchristians.org/five-reasons-christian-parents-lose-their-children/" rel="nofollow">http://www.redletterchristians.org/five-reasons...</a>

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          • reminiscent

            sorry for the late reply

            i cant advise you on the Philippines since i have never lived or even visited there.

            if its not religion then it would just be something else the parents used to control their children...just saying. if it wasnt religion then you would be complaining of whatever else it was...something for you to think about.

            but in their very strict faith Jesus is watching you...
            i dont think they are trying to put god against the child or anything like that...i think it would stem from a fear of going to hell. They dont want you to go there ether. Since they are so strict this could be another reason.

            what you are doing is listing the kind of christian house you wish you grew up in. Wishing your parents did it this way... this is a list of perfect parents...
            something you will never find. and i doubt anyone would do all these all the time with their child.

            you need to stop wishing what your parents could or should be like...and deal with what they are. you have recognized the problem yourself...thats good. now you need to fix it yourself. you are still an adult and in your own way you can change some things on your own. YOU need to make YOU a better person.
            you have internet access use it to further your knowledge.

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      • gum3rdm

        actually you are right my parents are indeed cult during 1960-80 (more like dark ages in our religion) the worst thing happen when my parents just graduated medschool and got their license but in the beliefs of their "modern prophet" they threw and burn their license but eventually persuaded by my relatives to get them back fortunately they went back to get new one, parents didn't even tell me any of these extreme practices back then i only got the information when my relatives told me all of these.

        all of our relatives fully disagrees my parents attitude towards me and the surroundings but my aunts and uncles cant intervene with what my parents because they don't want to alleviate the situation

        my parents and relatives had the same religion but my parents did take it too extreme level.

        after he got a new license until now, well my father decided not to work because Medical doctor is to tiring and he might eventually get killed in stress. take note my father is passive-aggressive, paranoid kind of person he is the most pessimistic person I've ever encountered, he even mentions more of my negative attitude (he calls me im a sinner) than the good of me. my mother on the other hand is more on the abrasive type of passive aggressiveness she likes to contradict even on workplace, wrong doings of staffs and associate it with her beliefs
        only my mother got to work back in MD field and shes the providing money for us.

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