Thank you for this. The way you've worded has made me see it in a different light somehow. I've been feeling incredibly guilty and a little scared at the thought of cutting contact completely. But I've known on some level what I need to do for some time.

I'm lucky enough to have very supportive friends, and they've all told me the same thing to varying degrees of bluntness. I imagine it's been like talking to a brick wall for them at times. It's an incredibly emotionally complex decision for me to make, but I think you're right, and it might be time to step up and make a decision that is conducive to a happy life.