Reply #55: I grew up in an alcoholic home [View All]

[Mabel Dodge]

From what I'm reading on this thread a fundamentalist home must be just as dysfunctional. If that's true, I can share what I did to get over the anger and the trauma.

I spent as much time as possible in therapy. I started in college with the student health counseling program and continued with free community mental health programs when I was one of the working poor and still today at the age of 50 with benefits from my employer.

After my parents passed (I was the good kid who took care of them), I refused to have anything to do with my siblings. They have never dealt with their issues and they're toxic to me.

Now I'm free from the emotional pain and hurt of the past. It took a lot of work but I've arrived. I can think of my parents with love and even smile about some of the good times. I don't get emotional about my childhood, I don't cry at the drop of the hat and I don't blame or hate myself anymore.

Finally, I have good people in my life. They aren't perfect but they don't need to be. We support each other with love and understanding and accept each others flaws.

This is what I’ve experienced and I hope it helps you. Good luck with your struggles.