A personal and worry question

[Angrboda]

I find much sensible in GC's words, but there is one thing I would, not disagree with, so much as qualify. Even in the most fucked up family, you may derive not only pain and anger from your family members, but even in bad families, most derive some level of sustenance, warmth, and just "connection" for lack of a better term for it. In our western world, we emphasize autonomy, as if it's a given that its benefits are better than belonging, sharing, and being connected. Your family, right or wrong, is the only one you will ever have; you can't replace the time spent with family with that spent with other people. Getting out may offer a doorway out of pain, but its also a doorway out of the solace of family and connection. For me, I'm likely to choose autonomy, as I'm something of an aloof loner. Despite my sisters being 4 years older than me, I left home several years earlier than them at 17. My best friend on the other hand, for much of the past 4 years had to live in a makeshift room in her son's house. Granted, she has strong and loving relations with all, but when I suggested that she would improve when she got in a place of her own and out of dependency, she said no. And though I still made the hollow argument from time to time, I knew she was just as good being under her son's wing, but connected, than independent and apart. Now I can't read your situation from what little you've written, so you'll have to use your judgement to decide whether what you would gain with independence, is worth what you would lose with independence.