I just realized something a little more about what I've learned about myself in therapy.
I've spent my whole life thinking that the abuse in my childhood and another trauma that happened later in my life were the biggest things I needed to recover from, and to work on in therapy.
What I've discovered in therapy is that the neglect I experienced in childhood - not being "seen", not being loved, being "good" but being ignored - left much deeper wounds than I ever suspected - maybe deeper than the abuse itself.
I am so grateful to have discovered that, as painful and as gut-wrenching as it is....because it seems that the more I am able to find those wounds, the greater chance that there is for healing. I hope!