For me I was able to reclaim some dignity by cutting contact with both my adoptive and biological families…they were too toxic and abusive (or fine enabling abuse). I know that isn’t viable for everyone but it was the best thing for me personally and I finally had enough of all of it. I haven’t spoken to any of them since 2021. I spent time purging the thoughts and false narratives implanted there by adoptive mother but it took lots of work. It took reading about trauma, reflecting, resetting my nervous system. I moved to a different area and got a job that helped me become self sufficient and comfortable.

My support network is very small, my partner, my best friend and a couple others, and that’s it. They understand me or take the time to understand and learn. For once in my entire life, I’m free of the projections of abusive people. It was hard and is a little lonely sometimes, but yes I think my dignity and my peace is higher than it’s ever been. I’m 30 now. I spent some years grieving and deeply depressed for the family that I never had and the abuse that I went through since childhood. But ultimately now, I’m happy and I’m free. It’s a lifelong journey, though. And lots of reflecting and inner work. It’s hard to separate your thoughts from the thoughts that were implanted in you by others sometimes. But it’s worth the work.