My aunt regularly interrogated me about my decision-making, schedule and personal relationships

Without realizing it, I fell into a habit of explaining myself to her. I lost a lot of autonomy. She strictly enforced the practice of getting her approval before doing anything.

I learned to hide things and sneak around her. It made her furious.

She learned to manipulate, lie and bully me into giving her what she wanted.

She was being selfish and intrusive and neither of us realized it. She considers herself to be a protector and provider, and cannot admit that sometimes she’s an abuser.

These days I don’t trust her with information or control. She calls me (and the other members of her immediate family) a “privacy hoarder”.

I’m very hurt, and I don’t plan on ever feeling better about it