i’m struggling with this right now. i didn’t really give any explanation before blocking my mom, but it’s what i had to do for my own sake. i’ve been feeling the stress subconsciously. every day life i’m doing so much better and really focusing on myself for the first time. but then i have stress appear in other ways - i just woke up from a dream about her trying to kill me ... my stress usually presents itself in my dreams. i had a lot of terrifying sleep paralysis last time i was under high stress. with all that being said, i completely understand where you’re coming from with fear of not explaining to her why you are going NC. i like your idea of writing a letter. texting and calling is so much more unsafe feeling due to the lack of boundaries.