Thanks for that long insightful post zjw.
Hmmm.... you just reminded me, as things seem to keep coming back at me these days. It was rare I could have any of the few friends I had growing up over, especially in the jr.high years. I had maybe one person I hung out with. And one who told me not to tell anyone we hung out a few times.
I didn't realize until later that it was because one of my parents might need to have a tantrum or beat someone in the house (pets included) at any moment.