You are so welcome peppie, and I am glad it resonates, but in a way sorry too because I wish no one would ever have to be in anything like the situation I have been in. Things are looking up for me though, it does get better.
it has to! i can tell by what you write that you're coming back up. what you've written makes me feel like someone gets it and understands the pressures of dealing with, for example, an asshole boss. and the word gaslighting. i've been using that a LOT with people realizing that when they can't deal with their own issues, they try to make it about YOU and your issues. or they try to question YOU, but it's REALLY THEM.
i love how you are taking a stand for yourself and i am learning how to, too.
there are a lot of shitty people out there who want to hurt other people, esp those who don't hurt other people. but it's good you and i are learning it's THEM not US and that we're learning to set stronger boundaries. there are some really manipulative people out there that will try to invalidate your experiences because they are mean spirited and bullies. i'm learning how to validate myself and how to be able to identify when someone is trying to re-write history for their own purposes. aka blame me for something they have done.
i LOVE what you wrote and it REALLY touched me. thank you.