Part 8/12:
Amanda discusses a troubling relationship with her mother that was marked by blurred boundaries. Her mother initiated conversations about sexuality at a very young age, which Amanda describes as inappropriate, possibly reflecting her mother's chaotic emotional state and desire for peer-like connection rather than parental guidance.
This pattern of boundary crossing, along with her mother's chaotic upbringing, may have contributed to Amanda's own development and her struggles with hoarding and emotional regulation. Her childhood experience of being parentified—taking on household responsibilities—disrupted the typical developmental trajectory and compounded feelings of shame and helplessness.