Dear Annie: I read today’s “Help” letter and it resonated deeply with my own experiences. Like “help me,” I had a narcissistic mother and spent years trying to reconcile my relationship with her while seeking my own happiness and balance.

Living with someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is extremely difficult as it does not improve over time. Those of us who remain on the receiving end are often left to adjust, adjust, and eventually face relationship problems elsewhere. Although space and distance cannot solve all problems, it does provide relief from toxicity.

How can those of us dealing with someone with NPD find peace in our decision to distance ourselves, forgive them without falling back into the cycle of abuse, and most importantly, forgive ourselves for making the difficult but necessary choice to distance ourselves? — walked away

Dear Walk Away: Remember that forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. It was your choice to walk away and it’s important to honor that. People are always under construction, so try to keep an open mind about your decision.

If it feels right, consider checking in with your mother from time to time to see if she’s making any efforts to change and improve. Your decision doesn’t have to be permanent; may develop over time. However, if it stays the same and continues to make you feel bad, trust that you made the right choice in leaving.