Originally Posted by SparkleKitty

For me, those feelings came from a place of not being able to self-validate. I had spent my entire life looking to other people for happiness, security, and love. When I became involved with an alcoholic, all of my issues were multiplied exponentially, and here I had chosen someone who was not capable of fulfilling those needs for me. It's what brought me to the conclusion that I needed to be able to validate myself, to make myself happy, and to love myself first.