I’d like to tell you to ignore your parents and find your own self-worth, but I know how difficult (impossible?) that is to do at age 15. You’re legally a child, so your parents still control you. They’re a domineering and authoritative force with tremendous power. You can’t simply walk away and exclude them from your life.
A few thoughts and suggestions:
- Your parents can’t take away your own achievements. Continue to study and get good grades, and keep on exceling at extra-curricular activities. Have the satisfaction of knowing that you do good things and do them well.
- Whenever your parents ridicule and demean you, just think the words, “I’m a winner, and you can’t make me a loser.” Make that your internal mantra, and repeat it as needed.
- Try to put some emotional distance between you and your parents. You can’t move out of their home, but you can build some protective barriers. If you tend to confide in them and ask for their advice, maybe you should do that less often. You can get involved in activities (join a new club, play a different sport, or volunteer and do community service) without telling them your plans or how you’re spending your time. This may seem harsh, but not all parents have the ability to be warm and supportive. If your parents are the least bit insightful, maybe they’ll find a connection between your reticence and their constant belittling.
Words can be more painful than fists. Words leave invisible bruises and scars that never heal. I truly hope that you can minimize your own damage and grow into a happy, self-confident adult.