Not coming from a dysfunctional family, only one I was embarassed to be around, I have always wondered about the following:

Just because you are born into a family, it doesn't seem to me that you are required to be around them if they are doing you harm. If you look at them as just other people, would you chose to associate with them as anything more than an acquaintance. I guess I have never understood why it is necessary to be close to people just because they are "family", if you wouldn't choose to be around them if they weren't?

I'm sure I am nieve about this since I am an only child & wasn't that close with my parents. I have grown closer over the years then even closer with my Mom after my Dad died. I am close but still keep some distance so no one knows all that I am going through.

Just curious