My father had an undiagnosed mental illness, probably bipolar, but I did not know that at the time. He was just a moody, raging, jerk. People knew but no one wants to interfere. I remember we had an uncle who was physically abusive to his kids, maybe his wife, I don’t know. Everyone knew about it but nothing was done. We are all grown with families of our own now and the perps have died.
My mother is passive and anxious. She did not want to disturb anything. She would tell us our father was just joking and he is wonderful when he would say or do hurtful things.
My dad has passed and can’t hurt me anymore. My mom and I have a strained relationship. I don’t want to put any hope into it growing into more. But, we can be amicable and she does not upset me so much.
And, I had an older brother who had a psychotic disorder, maybe schizoaffective like me, but my dad did not believe in psychiatry so the only help he got was when he got picked up by the police for observation. He would stop any meds as soon as he got home. Nothing changed. He died young at 26. I don’t know if it was an accident or suicide. He fell at a waterfall. But, I felt I had lost my brother years before, when he first got sick.
Everyone else in my family is over it all. I don’t know if I should let it go or if I could heal.
I was watching a YouTube on dysfunctional “tricky” families and childhood ptsd. https://youtu.be/EBpF8sWycQQ
I could answer yes to almost everything and a few maybe’s. He suggests working with a therapist.
I have a new therapist. I don’t know what to work on. Day to day, things are okay. I kind of went through my family history with her last time.
Or should I be done with therapy? I am pretty stable and see a psychiatrist. Things in my day to day life are fine. My past is a mess, but maybe I should just leave it there. My father discouraged me from going to therapy. “You talk about the past and it just makes people sad.” I thought he was being ignorant. Of course, it is more than that. But, did he have a point?
I plan to ask my therapist next time I see her if she thinks I even need it.
Stronger Than You Think 
If you don’t process it when things seem “fine,” it kicks you in the behind the next time some modern-day stressor reminds you of it. At least, that what was my experience during the last crisis. I keep trudging through it because I am far too much of a realist not to think there won’t be some other crisis again someday.
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