This is exactly my story, with a few small changes: music instead of visual art, I didn't throw everything away (I don't throw anything away -- also a problem ;) ), my primary sensory experience is sound, although I'm also highly visual.
I can't say that my parents were as bad as yours behaviorally. But, the end result for me was the same.
Music and I have a love/hate relationship. That's as far as I can explain it, right now. There's a lot of crap to process around this, I think. Should be an interesting month. ;)
