It was one of Hazel Girl's threads that got me thinking of this. She wrote about how her therapist explained, among other things, how we go into 'hiding'. That made me think of Winnocott's false self.

Then I started to get really angry because it feels like my parents robbed me of a large part of my life. Because I was so dissociated from my feelings, so out of touch with my authentic self, that's it's like I was depersonalized for most of my life.

And you can't fully give and receive love when your authentic emotions, self, is in hiding. That makes me even more angry. I missed out on so much. No wonder I constantly fear getting old. Because my life always seemed close to being over before it really even began.

Hugs to everyone.