I'm not trans, and although I'm not poor right now (I'm not rich either, I'm just secure for the time being), I can identify with your illness and with feeling lower than a nuclear bomb shelter and more worthless than drool.

I am so sorry that you are going through this.

I am glad that you are here. I haven't been around PsychCentral much for a while, but coming here was what got me into therapy, got me on meds --which was a struggle because, like you, I am chemically sensitive to lots of stuff -- and kept me going.

Gradually, I came to feel accepted here, even though I have never met any member face-to-face. In fact, I now have an internet friendship that has lasted since 2004 and started here.

So you have taken some great first steps. You have gotten into therapy. You are reaching out to others here at Psych Central who can empathize, offer encouragement, and share their own stories.

Please give yourself credit for taking these very important steps.

One thing that helped me after a long period of lurking in these forums was Open Eyes advice -- become a good listener (or reader), too. There are lots of people who want those moments of acknowledgement -- including me.

Things are better, but sometimes I still am lonely, lost in how to develop the "real world" friendships I would like to have.

Meeting you tonight is a great reminder of the huge amount of help and warmth I found here at PsychCentral -- and I hope you will find what you need here, too.

It is a wonderful community.