Joanna,

Your post touched me and I am so sorry that was the childhood you endured. You didnt deserve any of it. What has helped me through an unhealthy and toxic upbringing is trying to find compassion for the people who hurt me. Compassion is not saying anything they did was okay but its acknowledging that they are very unhealthy themselves and did the best they could with what they knew. You are so deserving of love and happiness. You are deserving of a good life. I read a quote that said “It is rarely our fault what happens to us, but it is our sole responsibility to overcome it.”  I have a couple of questions for you.

1. Have you been to a counselor?

2. What is your relationship with your parents like presently?