I think you are probably right. Bad parenting can devastate a person's life, cause those self-esteem issues quite easily.

I let my parents go a bit late in life... about age 35 or so... I should have done it much sooner. It took me all those years to figure out that life was much better without them, in my case. Seeking or feeling the need to seek approval from parents who don't know how to love you, unconditionally or otherwise, is real a real hard situation. Some people luck out and get great parents, a lot of us don't though.

In my situation, I never relied on them much after the age of 18, but i still sought their approval. you have to let the whole gamut go and do what you feel is the right thing to do for yourself, even when they disagree. It's good to put space, miles, between you and them, maybe essential. I struggled a lot when i was younger because of it... it messed up my life for quite some time but only because I still sought their approval even though i never really needed it. I keep in touch, my dad anyway, my mom is deceased. But I don't let his opinion bother me anymore. it's better for both of us.

Just let them go in that sense and try to move forward.

Jesus has been a better friend, God a better father, than my parents ever were to me. He is always there. Seek him, you'll be glad you did. He reaches out mightily to hurting souls. Ask him to make you the man He wants you to be and you will be happier than you ever could have imagined.