Stories about adult children going “no contact” with their parents seem to be everywhere lately — from viral TikToks to celebrity family drama to quiet, deeply personal conversations happening behind closed doors.
For some people, cutting off a parent is the result of years of conflict, emotional harm, or repeated boundary violations. For others, it’s a last resort after therapy, mediation, and countless attempts to make things work. And for many, it’s not a clean break at all — it’s complicated, painful, relieving, lonely, and often misunderstood.
There’s no single reason someone goes no contact. And there’s no universal way it feels afterward.
So we want to hear from you: If you’ve cut off or gone no contact with one or both of your parents, what has that experience been like for you?
Maybe going no contact brought an unexpected sense of peace or safety, even though the grief still lingers.
Maybe you felt immense guilt at first — especially when other people questioned or judged your decision.
Maybe the distance helped you finally see patterns clearly and understand why things never felt right growing up.
Maybe holidays, weddings, or major life events became emotionally complicated in ways you didn’t anticipate.
Maybe you tried reconnecting — and learned something important about your limits.
Or maybe you’re still figuring it out, living in the in-between, unsure whether no contact is permanent or temporary.
Going no contact isn’t about punishment or winning — it’s often about survival, healing, and choosing yourself after years of feeling unheard.
So tell us: What has going no contact with your parent(s) been like? What’s been hardest? What’s surprised you? And what do you wish more people understood about that decision?
Share your story in the comments below, or, if you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can use the form at the bottom of this post. Your response could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community story. Your experience matters, even if it’s one people don’t talk about openly.
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