I started a Facebook account several years ago, but I've never done anything with it; I basically have a blank page. My only "friend" right now is my daughter and she's been a friend for probably two years. I have seven "friend" requests that I've basically ignored...basically not wanting to be bothered.

Well, as a lot of you know, I recently moved 2,600 from "home". It was a move that was optional...I could have stayed where I was, but I didn't feel as though I had a choice. Memories were overwhelming and my impulsiveness was threatening to put me in jail. I promised when I left, to my daughters I left behind as well as a few colleagues, that I could work on my Facebook account so we could stay in better touch.

Just a few minutes ago, I just flipped through the page that comes up when you log on to Facebook of people who could be potential "friends". Most of them were people my daughter has as friends, and since I'm a teacher, I taught a lot of them.

I started having flashbacks, most of them not good, of those people. I instantly got that false sense of insecurity and the tightening in my stomach I so try to avoid. Also, the guy who abandoned me (I didn't see him...I know he invited me as friend a while ago but has since withdrawn it) had a lot of friends that I instantly recognized, so it brought back some of those feelings as well. I came from a small community where if you lived there long enough you'd bump in to everyone. The Facebook page with all the names and faces was like doing just that in five minutes. In addition, I saw a picture of my best friend who abandoned me 15 years ago. Her daughter and my daughter are half-sisters and "friends" (teenage love-triangle anyone?)

Now, I don't know what to do. I know I can invite only who I want and avoid everyone else, but it's inevitable that I'll see these people again and that some of them will invite me to be friends. Is it worth it? I've come to the conclusion that I'm better without real friends, at least until I can get some things under control, and who know if and when that will happen. Advice...suggestions?