Personally, I found my name change a liberating and wonderfully exciting experience. I walked into court on my eighteenth birthday and walked out a new woman. There is no greater feeling than slapping your abuser in the face and saying officially "you have no control over my life or what I do anymore. You can no longer hurt me so kiss my ass" with a name change that denies any (in my case, paternal) relation to the abuser. -And yes, in many respects it does change you, I think you should feel in control, impowered, and a much free-er spirit. You can start over. You don't have the baggage trailing your middle initial. You certainly can't deny it's still there, but you don't have to cringe or feel vomitus when ere you write your name anymore. I say more power to 'em! RoCk oN!
Name change