I am 41 years old and all my life my mother has been abusive towards me, emotionally. I am so sick and tired of her and I don't quite know how to deal with her anymore. She is 61, a widow (father died 9 years ago) and she has repeatedly emotionally abused me and my 3 brothers - we are all adults and we all have mental health problems because of her.

So I want to say........Dear Mum
Please, please leave me alone and my precious family. You have never showed me affection, told me you loved me and have critised my whole being. You nearly broke my marriage several times but we are still strong together, nothing will break us apart. You have been jealous of our marriage, acted like a child with my children and ruined my brothers lives. I know you were terribly abused by your father, for that I am very sad, but you never sought help for your demons about him, I tried to help you so much with this from such a young age - the roles were reversed. I have been your mother in actual fact. But you still carry on oblivious to the pain you have caused us.

I am sick and tired of getting stressed and upset over you, I am getting stronger day by day. You can't hurt me anymore, you are going to have to keep your distance from me from now on. Whenever I have had traumas or problems in my life I have always turned to you and that was a big mistake. You see, you thrive on pain and hurt because it makes your problems feel better. I think you are extremely unhappy. My counsellor said I have been treated like a puppy dog by you and enough is enough.

I am pulling away from you. Its going to be a long road for me and for you but you have to understand that I have to do this for the sake of my sanity. So, goodbye mum, don't give me any more pain.

well.........I havent sent this to her but its been good therapy typing it.....oh there is a million more things about the damage she has done but it would take me to write a whole book on it!

Anyway, thanks for listening