I knew this day would come eventually, the day my daughter decided to leave home and carve out her own space. It’s what we raise them for, isn’t it? To grow, to find independence, to create a life that’s theirs. But here’s the truth no one tells you: knowing it’s coming doesn’t make it any easier.
If there’s one emotion that seems to follow my daughter everywhere, it’s guilt. Guilt for saying no. Guilt for struggling. Guilt for not being able to do what others find easy. Even guilt for feeling guilty.
When you hear the word “overwhelm”, it probably makes you think of a busy day at work, a long to-do list, or too many things happening at once. Stressful, yes — but usually manageable. For someone living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Complex PTSD, “overwhelm” is a completely different experience. It doesn’t feel like juggling too many balls. It feels like drowning.