Did you always feel like the “problem child”? Did they blame you for everything that went wrong, even when it wasn’t your fault? You weren’t “bad.” You weren’t “difficult.” You were likely the family’s designated scapegoat. In a toxic family system, the scapegoat is the one person the family chooses to carry all its problems, shame, and dysfunction. Consequently, it’s a heavy, painful burden to carry. Realizing it wasn’t you—it was the role—is the first step to healing.
