There is no one answer to this question as every mother-daughter relationship is unique and therefore can be either healthy or unhealthy depending on the individual circumstances. However, there are some common features of an unhealthy mother-daughter relationship which include lack of communication, unrealistic expectations, emotional manipulation and/or abuse.
When it comes to communication, an unhealthy mother-daughter relationship is often characterized by a complete lack thereof. This can mean that the two individuals simply never talk to each other about anything of substance or that one person consistently dominates the conversation while the other feels unheard or unimportant. Either way, a fundamental element of a healthy relationship – effective communication – is missing in an unhealthy one.
Another hallmark of an unhealthy mother-daughter relationship is having unrealistic expectations of each other. This might manifest itself in the form of the daughter always being expected to meet her mother's impossibly high standards or the mother constantly comparing her daughter unfavourably to other people. These sorts of behaviours can lead to feelings of inadequacy and resentment on both sides and further damage the already fragile bond between them.
Finally, any kind of emotional manipulation or abuse – whether it be verbal, physical or mental – is also indicative of an unhealthy mother-daughter relationship. This behaviour usually stems from a place of control and powerlessness on the part of the abuser and can have lasting effects on both parties involved. If you suspect that your own relationship with your mother falls into any of these categories, it may be time to seek professional help in order to begin repairing it.