I appreciate your input Fuzzy. You are a big support on this forum and I'm sorry to see that you are still hurting and struggling.

I agree that venting can certainly lead to insight and change - if one decides to take action. In the past, I've been stuck in the "poor me" stage, where I lamented about my illnesses and how awful my life was...but didn't change anything about my life. It reminds me of that saying "“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." I was in that "stuck" place for almost 10 years.

In the past I would get frustrated when I saw others in the same "stuck" stage, because I know how depressing it can be. But now that I've had time to mature and grow, go to college and have experience working in the mental health field, I understand that everyone's journey is unique.

I believe in self-determination - the individual deciding what to do. I never try to force change on anyone. I appreciate that you naturally do this, Fuzzy. It shows that you respect others and their boundaries.