I grew up in a household full of secrets. Everyone was involved in some way with these secrets directly except for me. No direct abuse to me, father was a drunk sent to military prison, brother was schizophrenic. My mother spent her whole time trying to keep the family from getting embarrassed about our circumstance, that I seemed to be the 'normal' one out of the lot.

Growing up, the one quote I remember from my mom was, "suck it up and drive on". No validation to the problems I showed even then. Children shouldnt punch holes in drywall...etc ...etc. I grew up listening to my mother tell me pretty much that, no matter how bad I THOUGHT my problems were, someone had it worse than me. Do I agree, yes, but did I still have problems, yes. She never acknowledged me and my issues because it was, take care of the schizophrenic, take care of the abused daughter, talk with your husband who is 2 states away in the brig. And me, I was just a pain in the @$$ to her it seemed.

Growing up, I now realize that the problems I had, were still valid problems, I just got brainwashed into thinking that I was a normal kid who was 'misguided youth' so to speak. Had an issue before I finally just filed for disability because, as I told my doc, I didnt think I was disabled. I had that feeling of trying to get something for myself, even though I never "thought" I was disabled. I know otherwise now.