'My family bullied me about my skin condition'

Being told by her family she was ugly because of her skin condition inspired Usha Singh-Das to write a book that she says has now "inspired others who feel alone".

The mum of two has severe eczema all over her body and says she grew up in a house "marred by narcissism and unsupportive parental figures".

Breaking Free - Unravelling The Story Of A Toxic Life describes how the environment in her London childhood home shaped her.

"I got bullied by pretty much anyone I can think of," says Singh-Das, 44, who now lives with her family in Wednesbury. "I was told that nobody would want to marry me. People related to me were telling me that."

"It became a huge havoc on my self esteem, I became shy, withdrawn," she continues.

"Honestly, while I was in the situation I didn't realise how toxic it was, it was only when I got out of it."

When she finished school, Sing-Das left London and moved to Birmingham, where she studied television production at City University.

She later met her future husband and father of her children - a crucial step in recovering her self-esteem.

"To be totally honest, if it wasn't for my husband, I wouldn't be sitting here now doing this interview right now," Singh-Das says.

"It's my husband and my in-laws who have actually built me up from the shell I used to be."

In her book, she shares her personal journey of reclaiming her identify and embracing "a life of resilience" to bring others hope.

"They might be in a toxic situation or relationship now, but once they get out of it, there's nothing stopping them," Singh-Das added.

She says the reaction from readers of her book has been "amazing".

"They have said it's inspirational, people saying 'I didn't know it was common' and they thought they were the only one."

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