Do I have to forgive them?

[Anonymous]

My dad was a gambler and a neglecting father

my would was abusive because dad would gamble and she would take it out on me and my siblings ( locking us in a dark room, beating, force feeding spicy food if we insulted, threw objects at my face now i have scars on my nose etc) calling me names, belittling me. Telling me I’m a good for nothing

now I feel uncomfortable around them i’m 26 and a woman, I have pots and crippling anxiety I am yet to get my social worker degree. I still wanted to achieve my dreams. What to do

[Cutegirl06]

My boyfriend has anxiety from growing up with his mother and older sister which his mother let her beat up everyday at 13 he was adopted by his uncle. He's been in therapy since he was 13. He never forgave them for how they treated him. He was determined not to let them be the reason he didn't pursue his dream of becoming a Meteorologist which he will graduate next year. They constantly belittled him telling him he would never be anything but a loser just because he was a boy. He still has anxiety and nightmares from the abuse he suffered. I'm not discounting how you feel abuse is abuse. I'm just saying that you don't have to let the abuse you suffered define who you are. I recommend you get counseling first sort out your feelings first. I wish you the best!!

[RandomGirl42]

Hi. I'm not trying to nitpick here or anything. I think it's awesome that you are supportive but for some reason it bothers me that you told his story. I mean you could have just said I know someone in a similar situation. I guess what bothers me is It's ok to tell our own stories but I wouldn't like it if someone I trusted told my story (names or not) online. But I guess this is a me problem.

[slatyb]

No, you don't. You feel what you feel.

[Staximus]

No, move out