This. This so much. In fact I have these relationships and can confirm. The problem is when I get involved in the rare relationships with sociopaths and other problematic people, I can't just let them go. They remind me too much of my mother, and something primal in me keeps trying to "fix" them, please them, appease them, show them I'm not as bad as they're saying. But I shouldn't. I'm getting better at leaving them be.