quote:

Hi. I'm new here. Never done this forum or chat thing before, though have evesdropped many times!

Just wanted to say hi, tell you that this is all so real to me it is cool and scary at the same time. Feels like I have come home, yet validates my destructive thoughts more. Figure that?!

Hi JAW, welcome to the forum, I'm glad you decided to post and say hi. I'm really glad that you feel like you've found place where what you're feeling can be understood and that you can feel at home. For so many of us dealing with this stuff, that understanding and acceptance can be really helpful. I am sorry to hear that it validates destructive thoughts though as I wouldn't want you to think that ANYTHING justifies hurting yourself. I hope you'll be able to talk about what you're feeling and find support here.

I know you used the word self-indulgent to describe what we're doing here or how we're discussing it but I want to say that far from being self-indulgent, it has been my experience that the people who are willing to experience and face these feelings are very strong and courageous. Being able to stay and look at these feelings and dig underneath for the meaning is painstaking difficult work.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you.

AG