I think this is the most I have ever seen you write, which is a real good thing. Being able to say what exactly is going on can be so hard, I know this.

Whoever says all these nasty things to you has the problem! Trouble is that the name-calling can stick in our head and drag us down. Don't listen to it! There are so many people that know you are such a kind and caring, compassionate person. How wrong the name-calling is!

I know you have had bad experiences with therapists in the past, some of their techniques made you feel worse, possibly using the wrong kind of therapy for you. It truly saddens me how you were treated.

Being abused in childhood can have a profound and devasting effect on us. It's not something you can just get-over. It takes years of therapy to make those old abusive parent tapes quieter. And it is something that we have to work at. It's hard.

You said you wonder if you attract critical people who then abandon you. Sadly this can be the case. It takes strength to turn round and say, nope I will not be used again, walk away and find the kindness from people who don't act as leeches! We find it hard to judge the right kind of person if we always have had that type of person around. I hope I'm making sense.

I'm waffling a bit here but your long post deserves a good response. Growling is what you need to do to rise above the depression and in any case isn't that what bears are supposed to do!

My best to you. You know how to contact me. Your friend always!

(((((((((((( Furrypaws )))))))))))))