As the daughter of helicopter parents, I always had my freedom restricted while growing up and even well into my 20s. This made me start lying to achieve some freedom. As a teenager, I was not allowed to travel with my school, since, according to my mother, it was too risky.

At the age of 25, I went on a trip (alone), but told my parents I was going with some people from college. I was raped (was a virgin until then). I felt incredible remorse and guilt for having put myself into that situation, and I never told my parents what had happen, out of fear that they would never let me leave home again. But I inevitably fell into a depression and became a very closed individual. They would ask me what was wrong with me, and I couldn't tell them, I would just sob or be quiet.

My mother became violent a couple of times, telling me I was a problem person, unable to be happy, and that I was making her life a living hell. I was contemplating suicide, but I wanted to protect my family from my own suffering.

I got a job abroad, thousands of miles away from my hometown. My parents were visibly sad and they like to remind me of the fact that we "no longer are a family", that I have left them, that I am just like a visitor... I was feeling very lonely when I started my life abroad, and I ended up dating and marrying a local guy. I keep visiting my family about 4 times a year (whenever I can).

I love my family, but they are pressuring me to move back and I am feeling as if I had let them down. Besides, I think I am pregnant and instead of being something to celebrate, they are probably going to use it as another reason why I should move back.

My parents are in their early 50s and enjoy good health. My grandparents (in their early 80s) also enjoy good health... Both my parents are only children, and so am I, so they feel they have lost everything by my moving far away...

I need advice, I am finding it difficult to cope with their pressure...