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[Warpy]

16. Some families are toxic and their children need to break ties with them

You aren't the only orphan with living parents out there and sadly, you won't be the last. You can never depend on support, validation or acceptance with any of them, although at some point, it might happen. You can't count on it, though.

People who have met my family or heard about my extended family have all looked at me and said "Now I understand. Nobody normal could have come from that bunch!" I managed to keep touch, but barely.

It's true, but it also means that I haven't ever felt it necessary to live up or down to whatever "normal" is supposed to be. In many ways, that's liberating.

It also means you need to find people who do support, validate and accept you and fill your life with them instead of trying to brave family reunions because of duty.

It can be done. You can heal. Your family, I'm afraid, will always be closed minded jerks even if they do come to terms with who you are by the time they die.