Growing up, I was the black sheep—teased and bullied by my sisters, blamed by my parents, and left feeling rejected. That pain contributed to years of anxiety, depression, anorexia, and active alcoholism. During that time, I became estranged from my family and further scapegoated in a household that looked perfect on the outside. After getting sober in 2017, I tried to repair family ties, especially with my older sister, who was struggling with her mental health. I supported her as best I could, but she died by suicide in 2019. Her death triggered deeper healing and helped me see that maintaining close relationships with my sister and parents was harming me. Going no-contact with my sister and low-contact with my parents has brought a deep sense of peace. Society says, “family is everything,” but I’ve learned that being at peace with myself matters even more.