While these challenges can manifest differently in males and females, they’re no less real.

The idea ofdaddy issuesis thrown around pretty frequently.

At a Glance

Mommy issues is a colloquialism and not a recognized diagnosis.

Adult son hugging senior mother on the beach

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What’s The History Of Mommy Issues?

There are some notable psychological theories that help explain mommy issues.

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory

Freud initially researched this in regard to male children.

However, the larger concepts aren’t gendered and actually led to the formation of theattachment theory.

Many times, people who have issues with their mothers develop aninsecure attachment style.

The following are three types of insecure attachment styles:

Why Do Mommy Issues Occur?

The way mothers treat their children was found to directly correlate with the way their mothers treated them.

They were more sensitive to their child’s needs and less intrusive.

The same goes for moms who were dismissive or overly critical of their children.

When Is the Term “Mommy Issues” Used?

It can also lead to them mentally pitting their romantic partners' attributes against their mother’s.

Women with Mommy Issues

This term manifests completely differently for women.

This can lead to self-confidence and self-image issues later in life.

Should You Salvage Your Relationship With Your Mother?

Is she offering constant input on your decisions?

If she can take these notes, then the relationship is probably worth maintaining.

If not, you may need to take a step back for a while before giving her another chance.

Both the relationship with their significant other and their community of friends provided extensive emotional and social support.

Pinpointing these actions prevent people from perpetuating them.

Participation in Therapy

Finally, people who went on to recover from their mommy issues underwent psychotherapy.

Takeaways

Mommy issues can have lasting impacts that seriously hurt.

1995;4(1):4-13. doi:10.1002/car.2380040104