When Parents Are Too Toxic To Tolerate

Do you have permission to "divorce" a parent when they make your life miserable? It is a tough call, but there are times when trying to make a bad situation better just doesn't work. Separating yourself from the anguish, anxiety, and abuse that a parent can create may be the only way to go. But it's hard. Research on early attachment, both in humans and in primates, shows that we are hard-wired for bonding — even to those who aren’t very nice to us.