I would like to know when I'll know I have giotten over the damage that my parents did to me with their verbal and physical abuse. Will I ever be able to say, "I'm my own person now and they can rot in their graves". Dad died Dec. 10, 2010 and Mom died October 11, 1992. I have missed out on a lot in life because of my illness. I aim to make up for lost time. I am a lot better, but still not perfectly balanced. Or in other words, I can't say that I'm not sick anymore. I have a long history of depression, anxiety and self-injury and have been in and out of the hospital from about 2003 to 2010. It's been harrowing and I resolve never to have to go the hospital again. I just want to be "normal" or maybe "functional" is more the word - more highly functional - I do have strengths. Does it make sense that I should build on those. Any thoughts on all this would be greatly appreciated. It helps me to put my thoughts and feelings into words for you all to see. Thanks.