The dysfunctional parents I grew up with are no longer alive & I finally left my H after 33 years of his dysfunction. Moved to a place where I didn't know anyone......it was like a chance to do over & mostly leave the past behind except trying to get the divorce finalized from that far away.

It's amazing because it really gives you a chance to see who YOU REALLY ARE. I have found I am nothing like that person I ended up being under those conditions.......but I can feel that I am the person that was always trying to get out but couldn't.....always blocked by reacting to their dysfunction.

It's an amazingly feeling of freedom. The sad thing is that they were nice people but they were so dysfunctional that they basically unknowingly were unable not to effect those me who was the only one who had to live closely around them (I was an only child, & obviously only wife)

It was only after leaving & obviously my parents no longer being alive that I have finally felt like I didn't just want to disappear though I was always trying to find things that I could excel in throughout my life but had to work so hard to do it, it was exhausting.

Now......life is good & there are wonderful people out there who really do care & know how to show it much better than those who were supposed to be close to me but were unable because of their dysfunction (which is a lot different than intentional abuse)