Can I ask, if it's not going over your boundaries, were any of the adults in your upbringing alcoholics?

I, myself, went through multiple traumas throughout each stage in life thus far. One part of which was my parents doing kind of the same things. My dad tried to hang me at one point, and my mom-well, she did some cruel things to me as well. I'm not going to delve deeper, but yep I can get what you all feel like.

I think one of the ways I have gotten through that stage (although I am still working on a few areas myself with this in different yet similar ways) is by building up my self-esteem (something by the sounds of it we all share in common wasn't done for us as children), and two-realizing people are just that-people. Everyone has their hidden little blurp, skeleton, ghost in the closet, what you will, right? That whole thing look at em in their undies never did it for me. Looking at someone and realizing they are human, and probably have a few (if not bunch) of insecurities or fears brings it all down to size for me. AND, oh yeah, I use humor to break the ice...especially when I have a brain fart, or make a snaffou-I joke it off, it works.

hugs, Lisa