Seekinghappiness, I'm in your same boat...

BTW, not pertinent but -- I'm rejoicing that you spelled elusive correctly! Little things make me happy!

I have miserable self-esteem...I think it's one of the most intractable problems in therapy. I've never had a therapist who has even come close to being able to help me with it. It's not something I even expect help with anymore. It is so dyed-in-the-wool, you know? And I don't think very much is known about lack of self-esteem, although so much has been written about it.

I've wondered if it would be possible to be happy without addressing it, but I don't think so. It's fundamental.

Crappy or chaotic parenting is responsible for most of this stuff...What was it Freud said, a man whose mother adored him would be invulnerable for life (or something like that). So what about the rest of us? (LOL)

Just thinking out loud and commiserating with you...I'll post again if I have more ideas. Thanks for the thread!