"We are taught to hate ourselves."
     I was brought up to hate myself
     Only worth what others say I am worth.
That conditional love...
     I was born, without a choice
     but to trust you.
     I unconditionally love you;
     but you're not entitled to hurt me.
Every day my heart is ripped a thousand ways.
   I don't know me
      only who you told me I was to be
      who you said I was allowed to be
      do you hate the true me?
Why do you not want me to shine?
     You knock me down and I don't understand why.
     Belittle and break me until I cry.
     Nothing is good enough no matter how I try.
     When I begged for support; you said to stop that lie.
     I needed your love and you said goodbye.
     So I gave up... I wanted to die.
The pain of a distant relationship with you
   hurts less...
Than the pain of trying to endlessly please you
          the pain of never being good enough
                pain of impossible standards
                         of emotional abuse
                              conditional love