When the heart acts accordance with the truth and has aquires knowledge of what belong to the truth and what belongs to falsehood then only one can full understand themselves.
Self regonition is not defined by your current circumstances or that you have been going threw over the years wether is bad or good, that is something that occurs temporary and changes between time.opening up to the truth is opening to the recognition that true fulfillment has nothing to do with circumstances.
For example any flower can not be a rose nor defined to be roses because they are red like roses, there fore if you have been drown in your own misery thinking that you are not worth it you such has a person because that is who you are Stop! You are wrong you are everything that you yearn for temporary circumstances and other people is critism doesn't defined you. That boy who you are.
So stop labeling yourself on a label that doesn't suit you nor really explains who you are ,self recognition is not something that can be defined with words or your current circumstance but it's a lovely journey that requires you am only you to figure out.