"I have spent much of my adult life flinching with pain as I tried to pull out the threads that bound the shadows of my past to me"

This quote speaks with the problem of conquering the past and the discomfort that can feature it. Lorna Luft is revealing the battle of trying to untangle the threads of her past, which are like shadows that follow her. The metaphor of threads suggests that the past is deeply intertwined with her present, which it takes a great deal of effort to attempt to separate them. The discomfort she mentions is likely the emotional pain of revisiting tough memories and trying to make sense of them. It is a tip that the process of healing from the past can be tough and agonizing, however it is possible to progress.