{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Mary Alice}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

We are always here for you, no matter what. You have real friends - please don't forget about us! I really care about you.

I've heard of the 24 hour rule before too, and I understood it the way Julie explained it. The idea is that if you cut, and then call your T and get sympathy, you are reinforced for cutting, which is not what they want to happen. If you call before, or instead of cutting, then they have the chance to help you not to hurt yourself. One way I have seen it explained is that if you cut, then you have already chosen that coping method instead of the privilege of talking to your T. I can see how it is supposed to work, but I wouldn't like it either.

I think it must be for similar reasons that my T doesn't respond when I have written to him and told him that I cut myself. Even though he has said he doesn't have anything against SI, and that it's okay if I never give it up, he still isn't willing to reinforce it.

I know, just what you need to have the back problems on top of all this. You can get through it though. You are so much stronger than you know.

Please hang on, just for one more day, and then another, and so forth. Things will get better. Do you know how much I wish that I could be there with you and really help you?

Love,
Wendy

<font color=red>"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." -Harriet Braiker</font color=red>