Was This Abuse?

Well, when I was growing up, my mother made fun of me. She made pig-snorting noises at me because I was a little overweight and she called me a different assortment of curse words and rude things such as...
-dumb***
-little fu*****
-lazy a**
She also always told me to "shut the f*** up". My mother never drank/did drugs, but she always made me feel bad. Plus, she screamed and yelled and complained all the time.
My father always screamed and yelled, and I never trusted him or felt comfortable around him and I was scared to be around him, because he grabbed me by the jaw as a child and shook me around, and squeezed my arms really hard and shook me around until I cried. My mom stopped him sometimes. I was going to tell a principle at school, but I was scared if nothing happened, I would be stuck with mom and dad, and they would be very angry around me. My older brother would punch me a lot if I listented to music he didn't like, and he beat the tar out of me. He was very agressive. My other brother was nice to me, but he was really my half brother and my father hated him soo much. Growing up, my best friend was a dog and when he died, life never seemed harder for me.
I admit, my life growing up could have been worse, but it could have been better.
I was just wondering, my dad's behavior, would it be considered abuse now a days?

[OGmacdaddy]

yes, that is definately abuse.  I'm so sorry that happened too you.  I'm glad they did'nt hurt you permenently.  I know a woman who cusses at her kids, it is horrible.  Too my knowledge it is the way she was raised and probably even a little genetic.
I think you need to confront these trauma's somehow, therapy, or guided imagery where you go to yourself as a little girl and tell her good things.  Your definately abused you psychologically.  So in order to have a normal relationship you should try to settle that within yourself so you won't let it ruin your future.  Bradshaw on "the inner child" has some good tapes.  You can get them at Amazon.com for real cheap I'm sure.
God Bless You.

[beelzebubba]

Yes that was abuse. Abuse from all ends and in the forms of emotional and physical abuse. It was back then and is now a days. The first thing you need to consider is to get a therapist to talk about your experience. There is little to no chance that it didn't have an impact on you. I myself was abused physically and emotionally (and sexually, but you didn't mention that). I have major depression, schizo-affective disorder, and borderline personality disorder so the affect on me is kinda obvious. In my experience I had to work hard at forgiving myself because I also didn't tell anyone because I was scared (and in my case ashamed). I was just a child. The people who were supposed to be my protection, my care givers were hurting me, which makes them all wrong. They own all the responsibility. I worry a little bit because there are a bunch of hints in your note that you are trying to play this down, or write it off as not so bad (my life growing up could have been worse, but it could have been better). This is very serious stuff and you need to deal with it. Being here and talking about it with those of us who understand is a start. But you really need a professional to help. My heart goes out to you. No child deserves what we got.

[MilkandHoney]

Abuse can come in many shapes and forms. Mental and emotional abuse is hard to catch sometimes but yes it is abuse. Im sorry for what you've gone through D:

[margypops]

I am sorry this happened to you ,some counselling will help  ,coming here is a start, speaking it out instead of keeping it locked inside is good, and realising that you are not alone that its has happened to many ,many children...You are grown now and whilst those memories are still there it is possible to come to where you accept that it happened ,that it was'nt your fault,you determine not to let it affect the rest of your life. If you find yourself thinking about it too much, try distraction, switch off the neagitive thoughts, it will become a habit, stay busy,fill your life with work,fun and good things ....Good luck to you .