Jennie, thank you for putting it into a clear, consice nutshell!!

With 10 plus years of therapy...

(1) My past hurts have taught me how to relate to other people.

I'm distrustful of others. - Overly suspicious of other's motives.

I have low self-esteem. - I've learned that I AM worthy and not nearly as stupid as I was led to believe.

I'm not assertive. - I was agressive and angry.

I'm overly sensitive. I've learned that not everything, but more likely, damn little is about me.

(2) My past hurts have shaped my attitudes and behaviors. - I've learned that there are better attitudes and behaviors.

I have health, sleeping, and eating problems. I have anger . . . a lot of anger. - All my motivation, my perceptions were colored by my anger. I lashed out at people for no reason. THEY were not the cause of my anger. I learned what that cause was but I've also learned to use my anger to my own advantage.

I easily lose hope when things get tough. - Still an ongoing problem for me, too.

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