In need of guidance on family struggles
Assalamu alaikum, I've recently completed my studies and entered the workforce, and I'm writing to share my story and seek advice. My background is deeply rooted in Islam, with a family of Hafiz and Alimas, but for a long time, I struggled with my faith. It often felt forced on me in my younger years, largely due to my father's strictness about how I should dress, act, and believe. Eventually, that pressure led me to distance myself, but Alhamdulillah, in time I found my way back to Islam on my own, and I'm profoundly grateful for that journey. My family relationships have always been complicated. As a child, my older brothers bullied and left me out, and I was raised more like a boy, making it hard to connect with my identity as a woman later on. There was also a lot of hardship at home-my father was abusive, physically hurting my mother and us kids. Now that I'm older, he's less violent, but he's still very controlling and demanding. Living here fills me with constant anxiety, and I often think about moving out for my well-being. However, it worries me because my father is my wali, and I'm unsure how that affects future marriage plans. Deep down, I feel keeping him in my life isn't healthy, even though I love my parents dearly. This situation leaves me heartbroken and in deep sadness. Can anyone offer advice on how to proceed and heal? JazakAllah.