I tell the truth about my history, because it heals me, AND it helps others know they're not alone....

I come from an abusive, alcoholic, rage-filled father, and a codependent, enabling mother....but from the outside, you never would have known.

It was all smoke and mirrors; my parents were still together, we were active in the church, big house, financially well off, my Dad was a charmer, and my Mom was "so nice"... no one could tell that we were living in a landmine.

We walked on eggshells, hyper vigilant, always looking over our shoulders for Dad's rage, or Mom's passive aggressive control.

Obviously, this affected my development....

I became severely codependent like Mom, carried secret rage that would sneak out, like Dad, and I felt broken, weird, hopeless, and damaged in ways that constantly made me feel like an outsider.

I was always guessing at what was "normal"; trying to fit in, without letting it show that I had no idea who I...