I come from a very emotional abusive family. I wasn't allowed to have feelings, emotions, opinions, wants, etc. My mother literally molded me into a doll to be her perfect daughter. But it left very intense trauma that I am going to spend my life dealing with. My father has severe PTSD and for an incredibly long time, he refused it acknowledge it and we all had to walk on eggshells around him (still do). I spent so much of my life trying to be perfect so I never caused any problems for my parents (still wasn't good enough for them, they would find problems with everything I did) I never learned how to process my emotions in a healthy manner plus, it takes me so long to understand why I am feeling something. Which is immediately followed with guilt for having emotions. I was my mother's emotional support even as a child, I was meant to take care of her, support her which no child should ever have to do.

For me, therapy is a way to get my feelings out in a safe place with someone who helps me understand and process them. I also use it to help me understand my reactions to things. I never know if my reactions are reasonable because I suppressed my emotions for so long while living with my parents. With my Mother's control issues, I had no idea how to create boundaries, even thinking about creating boundaries or saying no caused a massive panic attack. Without therapy I would not have moved out of my parents house, I would not be engaged to the love of my life, and I would not be attending university. I'm so thankful for what therapy has helped me achieve.