PLEASE HELP. I need answers to the questions at the bottom of this post.

My parents only believe in dating someone if you’re planning to marry them. I strongly disagree with this, but they don’t bother to listen to what I feel or have to say, only refuting it.

They have gotten mad at me in the past for hiding my relationships (only two, of which only one was actually “dating”). I hid the relationships, especially the second one, because they get extremely overbearing and cause me a lot of stress if they know that I’m close to someone. It causes a cycle where I don’t trust them and they don’t trust me.

I want to have the option to date someone if I so choose, but I am terrified to even think about becoming close to someone now, much less dating someone.

They control every little aspect of my life so closely and precisely, from what I wear, to what I eat (a lot of the time), and even to how I study and do my homework at one point in time. I don’t know if they realize that for each thing they tighten, the more rebellious and bitter I get.

Is this relationship with my parents normal or typical? And is this a normal stance on teen dating (15.5 years old, sophomore in HS), or are they just *strict* and backwards? I need help, but I don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone in real life, cuz I still love them and don’t like to engage in self-pity. This is honestly taking a large toll on my mental health at times though.