Being the Family Scapegoat: Why It Happens & How to Heal

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Podcast · Mar 23, 2026 · 9m

You've spent years being blamed for things that weren't your fault. Every family conflict, every sibling's mistake, every parent's bad mood somehow became your responsibility. You walked into rooms already tense and left feeling like you caused it all. If this resonates, you've experienced one of the most damaging dynamics in families and relationships—being the designated scapegoat.But here's what most people don't understand: being the scapegoat isn't about you or anything you actually did. It's a deliberate strategy in controlling systems where someone needs to maintain a spotless image at…