Originally Posted by
DesertEyes 
What I believe today is that the "reason" why my parents did what they did is irrelevant in my life. It's not their motivation that caused me harm, it was their _actions_. Whether they meant it, or not, the result is still the same. Even if there _were_ an alien with a mind-control ray the result would still be the same: _I_ have to heal from the abuse.
Mike: Thank you for this. I need to get to where you are with this, but I have a long way to go.