[Perna]

What is it about you; your personality, circumstances, and supports; that has prevented your problems (whatever they are) or dx from being worse than they are?

I have a good imagination, am brave, and curious, so I'm constantly thinking of new ideas to try or ways to hang on, rearranging things to look at them new ways, constantly fiddling with them like pieces of a puzzle.

[Kiya]

ummmm.... i'm stubborn to a fault. and i'm a fighter.

[tulips30]

I don't know what "I" would say....but my T. says it is because I have an "amazing sense of integrity". I guess that's a good thing. He say's because of that I have always been able to keep my "radar" straight on right & wrong. Does this make sense to you? I'm really not too sure. According to him, it has helped me not place the blame for childhood sexual abuse on myself. He also say's that because of it, when I become reluctant to talk honestly & openly in therapy that my integrity helps me with this as well.

tulips

[sunrise]

I think for me, it is my kids. I have to be strong for them, they depend on me, and I need to help them through life. I can't just collapse and be totally depressed and non-functional. Even during my worst depression, I kept going for them.

I think also at heart, I am an optimist, although I hide it well. I always think the best of people (even when others tell me they don't deserve it) and I guess somewhere deep inside I feel I have the right to be happy.

[Rapunzel]

I think that I really am a lot worse than I appear to be, but I have always hidden it well. I don't think that makes much sense though. I keep a lot locked inside and don't let it out. Later, when it does show up, nobody believes that it was really there all along. I'm not sure if being able to hide it even is really a strength. I want to learn to be real, but I am afraid of what might come out.

[Mouse_]

I am a battler. Even when I'm down I will try my hardest to get up again. Plus my kids and hubby being here give me more reason to go forward, but I dont think I can really say what have been my strenghts because perhaps some of them have kept me back as well? Perhaps when I've fallen before, I've needed to stay there a bit while longer to learn the lesson it presents? I dunno really.

[chaotic13]

Just what I needed today :-)

I am loyal and protective of those I care about. Although I do not express my care well, I always seem to act in the best interest of those I love and care about.

I've learned the value of perseverance and determination from the challenges in my life. I am willing to endure discomfort to achieve my goals.

Although I dislike many things about my inter-self, I realize it is the part of me that has the ability to reflect, be flexible, open-minded, and creative. If I can combined these strengths with those of my external self (action oriented disciplined, decisive, problem-solver) I can be an individual who can do a lot of good in my little part of the world.