Hi,
I'm responding to this part of Sky's post...

"I'm concerned that members here, knowing all the tools to use to reduce frustration, still rant about all their frustrations here. What's up with that? How does it work, that I could know all the coping mechanisms to help me keep from becoming frustrated, because I am responsible for my own experience here, and then elaborate on what and how much I am frustrated? I don't know about that................................................................
Sometimes frustrations come when a member is too emotionally involved in another's post...taking it personally even. Certainly, there is cause for little frustration if one can step back away from the thread... and realize, that unless it is attacking them personally... there's no reason to be frustrated?"

I can relate to that and I think what you wrote Sky, is absolutely true but I think most of us are works in progress and we come to not only support and heal but also to learn.
I have difficulty with expressing myself, trusting others and self control. It's what got me here in the first place. I have those tools you spoke of to utilize but I am still learning how to use them, I'm trying really hard, too. Sometimes I mess up and get flustered. I would think airing out in a post is a way of saying "Help!!! I'm struggling with these tools could somebody reassure and guide me????!!!"
I think compassion is essential. I'd rather people come out and say "Hey, I'm really upset with you guys, you're making me feel bad..." rather then to keep it to themselves and let it eat at the insides of them so they no longer post or even come to PC anymore and then they lose their support system. We all know the Shoulds and Shouldn'ts but we're dealing with fragile humans here and sometimes shoulds and shouldn'ts come secondary to understanding.
I like that Desirae can communicate her desire to feel less invisable. It helped others to express those feelings too whereas before that they may have been too afraid to speak up. It gave me a chance to realize that although I may not know what to say to someone's post or I didn't really relate to it or I don't really know this person, maybe I should stop and put myself out there anyway-even if it's just to give a hug-so that person knows I HEARD them.
It's all I had to say.