As has been stated by many here; any trauma is still just that. Do not trivialize it... all trauma is to be dealt with. You are not "whiney"!! Wow, what a great share!! Kudos! So honest, so insightful, so helpful to us all!! Thank you!

I get the feeling you were trivialized, your feelings, your thoughts were all negated as a child. Opened you up to bullying, opened you up to trying to find ways to make those around you "accept" you.

Also, left you with a bad self concept; when nothing you have ever posted here indicates to me that you are anyone other than a great person!

CBT helped me with this. I used to be as you described. It's very debilitating to a child, a young person when no one ever takes the time to even notice you... is it not?

I had to look at me again, aft many years of not being who I really am; and meet myself.

I stopped being what others expected me to be when I finally realized there was only one of me; and that one of me was a whole person... whom I decided needed me to love her.

Hey? All anyone in life really wants is to be loved. If you are unable to find someone who will love you for who you are... time to love you ... to love the you inside of you.

Let the past go... you are a great person... give you a hug for me? Please? I feel compelled to thank you yet again for sharing this!!! Beautiful, real, sharing! My fave!! pax, theo