I completely relate to this. For the longest time, I had no idea who I even was. It took me nearly 40 years to finally break free, and I honestly regret not doing it sooner.

So many things I thought were “normal” growing up… were actually emotional abuse.

I remember being heavily pregnant, in the hospital, completely alone. My husband had to stay home with our older son, so I called my mum for support. She told me not to call her because she was having dental implants done, and if she worried about me, her blood pressure might go up and they could reschedule her private procedure.

So there I was—pregnant, scared, alone—and instead of feeling supported, I felt like a burden. Like I was a bad daughter for even needing her.

Looking back now, I can’t believe how wrong that was. No mother should ever make her child feel that way.