Thank you for that great feedback, Poppet.

The forums worked like that for me, too. I am sad when people receive comforting feedback (such as that others here feel the same way or have had similar experiences, that what one is experiencing isn't silly or trivial, that perhaps there are alternative ways of looking at it, or steps toward recovery) -- and despite all this the person will insist that the s/he is hopeless or the situation irremedial.

I just read an article by the late Christopher Reeve in the February issue of Spirituality and Health magazine. It is inspiring about how he managed his physical pain and hopeless physical condition. Many lessons in his example for we who suffer.

Victor Frankl wrote in Man's Search for Meaning that the prisoners who made it through the prison camp experience were those who managed to keep a small flame of hope in their hearts. The others gave up and died.

I am glad that the Forums gave you a little flame of hope. At least for today.