Hi Bethy,

That was a good reply, insightful and truthful.

Don't worry about me replying to myself, it was only a joke.

You have mentioned the dreaded (for me) bipolar. So far my dx's are panic disorder and phasal depression. My pattern has been down swings every three months or so, with little 'jerks' in between, which I can usually cover up. I thought that the phasal thing covered my mood swings but I have to admit that the depression does have a bipolar flavour. I dread it because my Dad had it and he wasn't good to be around. My work is cut out being steady for my immediate family, which I do pretty well.

The thing that I dread more than bipolar is the medication for it, as I have worked with adult students who were on high dose lithium and I know the score. Maybe meds have improved since then. Also I don't get a manic phase, just normally cheerful or miserable. My people pleasing seems to come all the time, like a knee jerk reaction; feels like social anxiety.

Thanks for your info about 3d friends; I guess I'm oversensitive about that and it sounds like it has worked OK for you.

Cheers, feeling better, M