Take your power each and every day, in each of the hundreds of little interactions that make up daily life. As you begin to take control of your life, you will no longer be left with a sense of powerlessness. Your anger and bitterness will melt. Easier said than done, but definitely do-able. You are riddled with bitterness because you carry anger and a sense of helplessness with you every single day.
Bitterness is the result of powerlessness in the face of anger.
That sounds right. You had to have made excuses for her, denying reality and diminishing yourself in the process. I see that. Anger is your signal that something is wrong and needs your attention. I like that idea.