Hi Stormy! Welcome to the group! Your words of encouragement and support really matter to me!

I want to say that when I had my darkest times, connecting with others who understood, at least listened and cared, was the most comforting feeling I ever had. To know that I wasnt alone and there were others who could identify and validate my feelings made me feel hope that I might be able to survive it all. (I have by the way ) Those people saved my life. I try hard to carry that forward with everyone I meet and at times, with people who havent been there, these feelings are more of a burden than not and its made me feel like an outcast all over again. So its mixed. Sometimes Im glad I can sympathize and at others wish I could just live with none of it on my mind. I know Im the walking wounded but as time has gone by its become easier to cope with and I dont feel the shame I used to. I thnk there are a lot of people in 'the normal world' who need to open their eyes.

But Im getting off track. What Im struggling with right now is how to be a better supportive person. How to encourage without annoying How do I make suggestions to people when I know certain habits and behaviors contribute to staying stuck and do it without totally pis@#ng those people Im trying to help off? As I said above, I, that is, myself, dont believe that just co-miserating really helps anyone move forward. If anything, I feel like it just helps that person to stay stuck right where they are. I want to do more.