How to deal with psychotic parents?

Question

Not my parents, my parents are wonderful. It's a really close friend of mine's parents.

She'll be eighteen next June and is a junior in high school. I feel that she's wasted away her teen years due to her psychotic parents. Like seriously psycho.

She's never spent the night at anyone's house, she's not allowed to walk down the street--not even five houses down, she's not allowed at the mall, not allowed to ride in any of her friend's cars when the parent is even driving, when she tries to hang out with friends they try to discourage her.

Her parents aren't home most of the time, either, but she's not allowed out of her house for anything. So she wastes away on the internet day in and day out, barely allowed to come to my house every Friday--with much reluctance on her parent's part--and every time she comes over they want her home before nine.

They hate all of her friends. Even the friends that make straight A's. They don't want her having friends at all.

How can she deal?

She's developed some mental issues, too, from a lack of social life. She's my best friend, and I like seeing her--but I can never hang out with her.

And I feel like she's suffocating. I just think she needs to get out and have fun, but her parent's don't want that. She makes wonderful grades, is applying to a great school, never does anything bad.

She's afraid to ask her parents anything, I guess. Because every time she asks they patronize her and guilt her into staying home.

Do they not realize how bad this is for her health?

Answer 1

WOW, sounds like my parents.

I suppose she could try talking to them.. but if they don't want to change, then there isn't that much she can do. Considering her age she may be able to move out soon, that's just about the only option to get away from your parents unless they're seriously physically abusive.

I wasted away my childhood.. Her childhood is almost over, it's too bad.

Answer 2

Ok, seriously now. That has gone on WAY WAY too long. Stupid crazy. Your friend needs to learn to STICK UP for herself and confront them head on with no sissy "guilt trips".

We live out in the middle of no where, and we're poor so I don't get to go out much either- but I still fight them like crazy and they get the message that I'm cooped up and need to have the decency to take me out on the weekends. Yes this is very harmful to your friend and if your friend wants to get anything accomplished- she's just going to have to do it anyway. There's honestly nothing they can do about it, just leave and go some place if she wants to, and if they say no then she should be all "I'll be back at midnight, I'm a big girl."

Ugghh why the hell did she let it get that bad??

Answer 3

I had written you a long reply, but the computer shut off and I lost it. Basically I said, break the rules and get her out of the house. Go behind their backs, their rules are so ludicrous it isn't worth it to let her stay home when they're away most of the time anyway. If she refuses, talk her into it, and keep her quiet about it to her parents. Make sure your risks are covered.

Answer 4

Your friend is to emotionaly destroy to defend herself First thing she needs from you issupport and encouragement to get counseling at her school Sec ond do not push her to get out the house shes one whos paying the price when she comes back home

Answer 5

some parents are paranoid is just a fact of life, but being nearly eighteen she should go talk to them explain to them she needs friends