Dear Shirley Ann,

I am so sorry for all that you've gone thru. It sounds really tough. I wish I could reach out and give you hug.....so virtual hugs.

I think you know better that whatever your mother says about you, she's really just projecting her image about herself onto you. When she calls you stupid....she really indirectly sees herself as stupid.

Hope you do work with a T in future to heal your wounds.

Pls don't be so hard on yourself for still staying with your parents.....you are just 21......not 61. Many psychologists say that we ultimately gain the maturity to figure out your life only in our late 20s. I am 29 and I still am on my way to figure out life.

Your mom has been very hard on you and emotional abuse really robs you of all your self worth. You know you can't expect your mother to understand your situation (hope she's working with a T).....so only you can protect yourself!! Ignore your mother's words....whatever she says about you is pure BS. Complete your education and take your time to find a good job for yourself and when you are financially secure, you can move out with some roommate (would be cheaper and more fun!)

On the other hand, you can also try for some part-time job....like a store manager or online secretary or something like that. May be you can make some jewellery and sell it online (give good returns for less investment)....or try selling home-made chocolates (which are insanely easy to make...tonnes of recipes online). If it sustains....you can pay your mom some rent to stay (would atleast make her quite)

But your priority should be completing education.

I really request you to maintain a journal about your emotional abuse....just writing about it can be really therapeutic. Till you start T, pls write journals for yourself and reading articles as much as you can about emotional abuse.

Hope you recover from it. We are here to help. Good luck!!