Well Poppet, I like you. I agree with you about it taking the rest of our lives. I also feel that I have no self-esteem, there's nowhere to go but up. I'm glad that you have goals and you're making some progress. I have just started to set goals and working on it. I personally think that a lack of self-esteem is at the core of our thinking, meaning, that if we can improve our self-esteem, resulting in us feeling better about ourselves, more accepting of ourselves, then maybe we won't be so negatively affected by what others say. It will make us stronger. I had an appt with my T today and she told me that you can never really change a negative thinker into a positive thinker but you can certainly improve on the way you think but it's something that you will constantly have to work at, just as you mentioned. I've decided that I have to work at mine cuz it couldn't be any worse than it is now. I need to start thinking better of myself, more accepting of myself or I don't think I'll ever be able to have much if any control with my BP rapid cycling and I want to try and not be so affected by outside sources as I am now. Anyways, that's my take on it, right or wrong. I'm really glad that Doc John gave us this forum to bring us all together to help each other out with whatever might help each of us. I know, I personally certainly don't have anything to lose. So, we'll all be here for each other and help boost each other up.

Thanks about liking my avatar. Yep, that's a kitty who fell into his food dish. It's kinda representing my depressive mood but in a cute way instead of a very depressing looking avatar. I change my avatar and sig frequently and since I'm no longer in the abyss, thanks to our little wayward discussions here and some really persistant friends here who didn't give up on me, I'm 'ok' again. Thank God, that time in the abyss was really scary. I 'hate' getting that low. Anyway, I've rambled as usual Keep posting and we'll all get through this together.