Don't give up on leaving.

I had a discussion with my T about how I had been told you can't leave your problems because they are inside you.....but she said that is only when your problems are NOT external ones. Yes, I brought along how I had adapted to that environment but in a new & peaceful envuronment we learn how to adapt to that & slowly realize that the way we adapted & responded to that old dysfunctional environment is no longer necessary & a peaceful feeling becomes recognizable.

Yes, one needs a peaceful home life.

I didn't jump right into my new environment but I definitely put feelers out into groups I was interested in. That gave me a chance to observe the people & know who I really wanted to get involved with before becoming friends.

I have to say it worked because this is the life I always dreamed was possible all those years.

Yes some issues followed me but that was because of the financial mess my H had made that made it impossible to get divorced immediately. Finally after 11 years I got my divorce but I am still battling over assets in the state where we were married & lived all those years. The final relief will be done when tbis is over but as you said....having a peaceful home life to ground yourself in is very important.