" High Tolerance for Inappropriate Behavior,” children and adults often do not realize that they have been mistreated. Having no other reference point from which to test reality, they think that how they were treated—and often how they still are being treated—is somehow appropriate or okay. Or if not appropriate, that they somehow deserve to be so mistreated. "

― Charles L. Whitfield , Healing the Child Within: Discovery and Recovery for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families