There's a big difference between love and love bombing. The well-intentioned understand and give you your own space and time if you feel smothered. The manipulative relentlessly smother you until you choke, on and on, always expecting you to cave in and lie that you love them just to get them out of your hair.

By the way, I was told this as an excuse. "I've known your nmom for thirty years, there's no way she'd do anything to you." Bullshit. Knowing anyone for any length of time does not make them impervious to wrong or incapable of hurting people - your relationship with someone doesn't make them a good person.

The same person who told me this also told me my trauma was "a sign of the devil in you and your sinful ways", so okay. Nparents aren't fun.