Does anyone else with daddy issues ever emotionally identify prominent men in your life as father figures? For example, during highschool I kinda viewed my English teacher as a father figure because he always gave me the emotional support I never receive from my father. I didn't consciously do it, but my brain just kind of held this teacher in such a high respect and valued him as my father figure temporarily.

I'm 19F now, and at work one of my coworkers 27M, is extremely kind and accepting of me as a person, and I'd honestly consider him a friend. But once again, my brain has latched on to this recurring father-figure assigning, and now I've subconsciously made him that source of positive male validation.

I go through these phases where depending on the setting and circumstances, it's almost like ah yes, gotta identify one positive male figure here. Like wtf. Jesus I hate daddy issues.