If you're confused because of losing an abusive parent, it's because your brain is grappling with a deep biological conflict, and this creates understandable chaos. Your system is wired to seek safety through attachment to this person, yet they were an are also a source of danger and fear. This conflict leads to complex, intertwined emotions, like grief mixed with anger or relief, which are a core part of grieving someone who held such contradictory roles. Read on to learn about your complex grief and how to move through it with compassion.