"OMG there is something 'wrong' with my child's head!"Is there another term to describe this kind of paranoia?

Question

What is the term for an overprotective parent that constantly thinks her son/daughter is "out-of-control" or "mentally ill," just b/c her child is misbehaving in normal typical ways that children tend to misbehave? For example, thinking that her daughter has a "mental disorder" simply b/c the daughter has mood swings at puberty?(you get the idea) I have a friend who was actually taken to a SHRINK by her strict parents, b/c they were convinced that her acting like a "normal college kid" was "abnormal"...just to be told by the shrink that she was indeed a perfectly normal, career-focused young girl!(even a shrink didn't find anything wrong with the girl!) Could it be possible that the parents have a disorder? Is this just simple paranoia or overprotectiveness, or could this be something far worse? NOTE: I don't think my friend's parents WANT their daughter to be "insane," but I think they'd rather think she is "insane" than accept that dating & drinking are "normal" parts of college life

Answer 1

My sister was that way with my niece. She tried taking her to a shrink and they actually committed my sister for overnight observation. It could be that the parents see any kind of behavior that's not acceptable to them as reflection of them - in other words, maybe they are perfectionists and think it makes them look bad if their child is not perfect. Or, they could just be extremely overprotective!

Answer 2

i think the parents are just kind of disliking the whole idea of dating and drinking but her parents mite be mad her too ish. like say they wanted her to be a doc but shes like no i want to be a...writer. then the parents have a whole freak out over the fact that their daughter isn't gonna get enough money to support herself and her future family. so insecureness? (is that even a word?) lol hope that helps