moms are supposed to love and take care of their children, but why dont they ever take mental health into account? growing up, its always just been my mom and siblings, so of course she has to work extra hard to care for us. i understand that shes stressed and tired, but...that doesnt excuse neglect. i dont mean the type of neglect where a mother leaves their children alone every night to party (although my mom used to do that) im talking about the neglect where a mother completely ignores her children's mental needs, and labels them as "only a phase" or as "dramatic". i remember the first time my mental health started going downhill, i was in the sixth grade, about 11. i confided in my mom, you know, thinking that she'd be able to help me sort out my young, confused brain. you know what she said? "youre being over dramatic" and "youre too young". and since shes my mom, i thought "mother knows best!" so i suffered in silence. i drowned out those feelings of wanting to die because i was "too young" and i was just being "over dramatic". as the years passed, my mental health got worse. i had learned that i could not tell my mother anything because she'd just ignore it. i remember telling my mom that i really wanted a therapist. but she said, "you just want attention. you want people to feel bad for you." and to this day, i think, maybe she's right. maybe im forcing myself to hide emotions because thats what 'depressed' people do? maybe i want people to pity me. i doubt myself so much. ive tried so many times to silently hint to my mom that i am not okay. so many times that, at any given chance she has, she'll mock me. she'll say "oh im sorry, am i making you sad? you wanna go to your room and cry?" literally what the fuck. she thinks its okay to make fun of own daughter's feelings. lol, that reminds me. one time we were shopping for clothes, and i'll have you know, i am very insecure about my body. ive let her know that may times. anyways, we were looking for a shirt for me, and she got noticeably frustrated. i mean, i dont really blame her. she said, "ugh, why dont you ever like anything?" and i replied, "im sorry, i just hate my body" she said, and i quote "youre not allowed to be insecure. only people like me." idk if she was trying to be nice? but like, cmon, why ami not allowed to? i dont have the perfect body. god. theres other things i wanna talk about, but this story is far too long lol. yeah so in conclusion, neglect and abuse dont have to be physical