“My dad disappeared when I was 13, and I never saw him again.
As an adult, I learned he told everyone I died…he did this for two decades.”
We recently asked theBuzzFeed Community,“How has having atoxic dadimpacted your life?”
Unfortunately, there were many stories filled with horrific things fathers did to their kids.
They’re extremely toxic and unbelievable, and have left a very damaging mark on people today.
c’mon proceed with caution.
Then, when I was about 13, he disappeared completely.
Eventually, I just gave up hope and resigned myself to him not wanting me in his life.
I didn’t think too much of it.
What he told me shocked me my father had been telling everyone I died.
For two decades."
Thirteen years and one existential crisis later, I’m over it (for the most part).
But, I do sometimes still wonder how a man could be so completely warped."
Anonymous
2.
He left us homeless for six months with no money to support us.
“I think my dad really tried to be a good dad.
He turned the other way about the whole thing.
Again, I was 5 years old when this started, and it continued well into my 20s.
“My dad (despite being overweight himself) is very ‘anti-fat people.’
I developed an eating disorder at 15, and it spiraled.
At one point, I kind of got it under control and gained a little weight.
As soon as I visited him and he noticed, he commented on it.
I was mortified, crushed, and it got worse than ever.
“Nothing was ever good enough for my father he was hyper-critical, judgmental, and perpetually angry.
Two of my earliest memories are of him yelling at me when I was crying.
I remember dropping my ice cream when I was 6 and becoming paralyzed with fear of getting beaten.
I hated him passionately for it.”
“He was an angry, self-righteous, petulant man-child.
To this day, he denies he ever laid a finger on me.
“I have a brother who’s six years older than me.
My brother never spoke to him again, and spent years working through his own mental health.
I spent every waking moment with her while I was pregnant, praying shed live to meet my daughter.
“I’m a 32F, and growing up I had a great relationship with my father.
When my sister and I came to puberty, everything changed.
He wouldnt talk or attempt to relate to us it seemed like he was mad at us for aging.
She was in high school, so I was around 11 years old.
I didnt understand it then, and I cant understand now.
Dads: hey be nice to your daughters its not their fault they grow up.”
“My dad had an affair and left my mom when I was about 4.
Eventually, we lost contact completely.
I tried again after the birth of my second son, and the same thing happened.
So I gave up…
I mean, how many times can a mans only daughter be rejected???
I ended up in an abusive relationship and reached out to my dad for help in desperation.
I was 4 years old!
Talk about toxicity.”
“The best thing my dad ever did to me was die when I was 13 years old.
Now I have PTSD and a hatred for men.
Our family got thousands of dollars saved for us all to go to therapy after she died by suicide.
Overall, it’s just a huge mess, and I rarely speak to him.”
“I am still so scared of him.
He was very calculated and even involuntarily admitted he manipulated my mom into staying several times.
I just don’t know how much more of the anxiety I can take.
canunotmywaywardson
14.
“My dad was/is a narcissist who made us spend all of our weekend time with him.
He also lived less than two miles from my moms house, so he was always close by.”
“Growing up with him was traumatic.
Ive learned to set major boundaries, but I still feel guilty for ‘hurting’ him.”
goji1986
15.
“My father had no interest in being a father, but absolutely adored being a stepfather.
As a kid I was confused by this why couldn’t he just treat us all the same?
lobsterlemonlime
16.
But as my parents' marriage became more hostile, the more he began to resent me.
I was tearful but rational, and wanted him to see how much I wanted him to be proud.
After this, he called the police, then fled.
He then called my mom and tried to turn my entire family against me.
grouchycomet68
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
