The marks on my body after my father’s abuse were not possible to hide anymore, and even when it was visible for the community to see, nothing happened. On top of my fear and hatred towards my father, I developed hatred towards my mother for “accepting it”. Growing up, I saw other parents express love for their children, but I felt neglected, as if it was taboo to explore love. Once I had grown up, this had been internalized to the point where I struggled to receive love from partners and friends. My emotions were suppressed to a level where I felt emotionally numb. See how I sought professional help after a divorce that left me a single mother of a child with autism. The psychologist kept pushing about my dad and childhood, and eventually, I realized that I had to push through the pain of opening up. Learn how daring to be vulnerable with her allowed me to accept my past and start reconnecting with my emotions. This helped me express and receive love from those around me and utilize my experiences to work for awareness around autism and mental health.