Comment by iamleppert

ACE 8. Despite a promising start in life, things deteriorated rapidly.

Mother was in and out of mental hospitals during much of teenage years, abusive, narcissistic. Father was alcoholic, absent, frequent bouts of adultery. Eventually they divorced when I was 12. Sent to live with grandparents who didn't want me, very abusive, cruel and neglectful. Changed my opinion on my family during those years.

Father eventually remarried, mother did not. Mother died of suicide at age 58. Step mother also died of suicide at age 48. No relationship with any other family members.

Diagnosed with ADHD, depression and anxiety. Also was born with severe hemophilia and had to deal with all that on top of everything, gay. Despite all that, was able to train myself as a software engineer and have a decent career.

That said, knowing what I know now, if given the choice from the beginning, I would choose not to live this life even if it meant a chance of having a worse life.