In reply to subtle:
> Why do I get so upset about toxic family connections..... what do others with toxic families do to blank out the hurt?
In my opinion, 1. blood connections, they do unfortunately matter no matter how many times we tell ourselves they don't, 2. as a technical point your family always remain your family forever, whereas we can positively ditch friends and shut the door if desired, 3. the movies, TV (and especially all Xmas movies), and society keep hammering home the message of how important family are, how we should love them forever and always live in their bosom, 4. our toxic family member/s know number 1, 2, and 3 as well as we do and tend to keep trying
Really sorry for you subtle. I feel your pain as I have it too (not my parents). "what do others with toxic families do to blank out the hurt?" That's really tough. I blank them out, avoid them, get out / get away, try my hardest to keep a sense of perspective and make the problem look and even be smaller, keep myself healthy, busy, happy as far as possible. IT'S HARD