Unkind relatives can be a huge burden, crushingly heavy to bear at times.

Often people who are unkind or brutal have been victimized or brutalized in their childhood. I don't say this to excuse their behavior.

Some people who were not loved sufficiently in childhood become mentally ill and some of their behavior springs from mental illness But cruelty , not matter what the source, is horribly painful to suffer.

I think it is good that you have put some distance between yourself and those who were and terribly are unkind to you.

Setting boundaries is often necessary in order to protect our mental health.

I can definitely identify with you from my experience with unkind relatives, so my heart goes out to you. I am so very, very sorry you are in that unhappy situation! Are you going to okay?