I want to impress upon you how deeply I know first hand how much the pain, anguish, hurt can go. Sometimes it is so hard for me to respond because of my own pain surrounding the estrangement with my own mother and to tell the back story .... ugh. Too much. Hurt, pain, guilt. I am not Italian nor do I come from an Italian family but I am part of a peoples that put family ahead of most - if not all else. That is why it is so much more confusing and frustrating and crazy- making.

I just wanted you to know you aren't alone. I get it. I get the inner struggle and pain.

But I also know how incredibly vital it is to take care of ourselves. No matter what old tapes are running through our minds. We have to take care of our health and well being. We have to put ourselves first. For once. I know it is hard, but it is for survival.

Bunches of hugs to you. I KNOW you can get through this.

(By the way, dbt with a really good T helped me tremendously).