While parents are expected to love and protect their children, some sadly become sources of fear and trauma instead. Reddit user PeanutMiserable7872, from Detroit, Michigan, recently came forward on the r/AmIOverreacting subreddit to share a harrowing personal experience involving her father. In her post, she included screenshots of text messages from her dad. In them, he accused her of hiding his cigarettes, shoes, and keys, insisting that she must have moved them. She denied touching any of his belongings, but he refused to believe her and responded with a barrage of insults and curses.
Encouraged by responses from fellow Reddit users, the Detroit girl tried to confront him. She brought up the possibility that he might be struggling with memory issues or even dementia. Unfortunately, the conversation spiraled out of control. According to her, her dad began hitting himself in the face and screaming uncontrollably. He took her phone, and by the time she retrieved it, her previous post had been deleted and the screen was cracked. During the episode, he also shouted threats, claiming he would burn everything.
She was able to escape when her dad apparently fell asleep. She suspected he might have passed out in the bathroom since the door was locked and he had a history of falling asleep in the shower. Her phone had been hidden under a pile of papers in the kitchen. She grabbed it and ran.
Now, she is waiting in a nearby park. PeanutMiserable7872 shared that she had already called the Detroit police, who were en route to her home and confront her dad. She is waiting for a callback to find out when she can safely return to collect her belongings. Officers told her the case would be forwarded as soon as possible, although it may take longer due to the high volume of calls in the city.
The girl included a photo of herself and visible injuries with the message: “Here’s me. Here’s what he did to me.” In the final part of her post, she admitted she doesn’t know how to begin healing. “I feel like my entire sense of self is gone,” she wrote. “I know I have a long road ahead of me. Thank you all for your love. I wish this didn’t go this way.”
Numerous internet users rushed to comfort the girl after she shared the new post titled “I seriously think my dad is losing his mind.” One Redditor even offered to book her a hotel room for the night, while others urged her to reach out to a domestic violence shelter for safety and long-term support.
