I am a child in an adult body.

Possible TW; related to title + mention of religion + hate grown ups

At first I couldn't think of where to put this, I could put it in any number of subforums (anxiety, DID, etc,) , but I've decided to put it here since I actually have a PTSD diagnosis.

I don't understand phrases like "Children don't have responsibilities", or "If you want to stop being treated like a kid, stop acting like one!"

Why does "being treated like a kid" mean being treated with disrespect, disbelieved, discredited, your interests being met with disinterest? What is so wrong with kids, and whats so great about adults?

I feel like I'm a kid inside. I feel like it is not the same way other people have an inner child, I feel like I am emotionally still 12 years old, sometimes even much younger. I always dreaded growing up. I saw grown-ups as something bad, something boring. Grown-ups never wanted to play with me. They were always too busy with school or with work or with cleaning. I always thought I'd never get my period, and once it came I started to starve myself in hopes I could stop myself from growing. Even now I dress in childlike clothing and people make fun of me because I frequently talk in a high pitched childlike voice with "off" grammar. Its not an act. It just happens and I can't control it. I feel like this self is my core self.

I had a lot of responsibilities as a child. But none of them were responsibilities of the grown-up world. I had the responsibility to work on my best friends comic characters with her, to help her with her comics, to make sure she wasn't harmed. I had the responsibility of making sure all animals were okay. I don't feel like I can ever go back to religion, but I had the responsibility of spreading the gospel. I chose these responsibilities. I'm not intentionally trying to go back to avoid responsibility. I just don't see the point in adult responsibility.

I hate adults. All "adulthood" means is taking the sunshine out of life.

Adult responsibilities generally involve those necessary for the survival of the family. That is the point of them. Without someone being an adult, you would be dead for lack of food and shelter.

Childhood responsibilities are to grow by getting enough sleep and food and to learn through play and formal education.

You are an adult if you are over the age of 21, or 18 in some countries. You didn't say how old you were, but if that differs from how you feel you should be in some kind of therapy.

I've read some similar posts by other people, pygmalion. Their circumstances are different. But there may be something interesting there for you. Both have mention [but not detail] of abuse.
living-with-mental-illness/topic74353.html
child-abuse/topic103346.html#p1002425

There's nothing wrong with being a kid inside. Being "young at heart" is the socially acceptable way of putting it. It seems like you want to go further than that. And that may put you in conflict with other people. If that's going on, then it might be helpful to talk to a therapist. Not so they can "reprogram you to be a grownup." But perhaps so that you can get more perspective on why it's so important to you to remain a child. That way, you can work out ways to achieve that. And respect your core self. Without "opting out" of the real world completely.

Just for myself, I like being an adult because I can have icecream for breakfast whenever I want.