Ok... I think its only fair that I be the first to answer my own question. After all if I'm going to ask others to bear their secrets I should start the ball rolling I guess.

Keep myself/put myself back into survival mode..... prayer is my main source of affirmation of my worth. My source of inner strength and a sense of usefulness to the world around me. I am a diligent prayer warrior. I pray day in and day out without seizing. When I'm too down to even get out of bed I open myself up to pray for strength, for rest, for hope, for renewed faith. When I'm too wired to think straight or talk coherently I pray for calm and claim the peace until it comes.

Just to make sure you don't think I'm just some kind of wacked out religious fanatic I have other 'worldly' strategies too. The most important one I've found is to let others know when I need a boast to my sense of self worth. To turn to those I trust the most to be reminded that I am 'good enough'... that I am 'ok'.... that its not 'what I do' but 'who I am' that gives me reason to survive. I am a living, breathing survivor cuz I am here and because my friends tell me so. Somedays that's all I have.... somedays that's all I need to stay the course another day.... week.... month...

The support of people I trust combined with the faith in answered prayers are my most valuable survival skills.....

Your turn....