So I had dinner with my parents and sibling last night. While it was exhausting, it was also eye-opening.

Like, watching how they all pick at each other and are trying to defend themselves against each other with my father leading the cycle and egging things on even as my mother and sibling are showing clear signs of distress… It's just like. "Wow. I used to live like this? Damn."

Like for the first time I was truly an observer, almost completely without fear, instead of getting pulled into the undertow of an unhealthy dynamic. It's like they're all drowning, pulling each other down, and I've finally both learned to swim (therapy and healing literature) and gotten a life vest (the right meds). Meanwhile they're all stuck in the looping undertow and drowning.

While some headmates are still stuck there in that toxic place, I feel like I've made it out. That means I can help the others over time. It's kinda surreal and really encouraging

#Abuse-tw #abuse #mental-health #escaping #emotionally-immature-parents #family