[HKAngel24]

Shutterbug- isn't amazing how we can KNOW where our self-loathing and issues stem from but STILL feel paralyzed to make changes- STILL grope around in the dark hoping to fall upon the right tool/fix to make us "see the light."

I am STILL trying to figure this one out. My damn negative thoughts and distorted cognitions are so strong they ARE my reality.

RedLady- I think magical thinking is believing that you have more influence over something than you do- I will have to check on the definition of this and write it later. I would urge you to go to the dr. and get whatever ails you checked out. I know this much- if we do not take care of ourselves, no one else will. It was a hard concept for me to wrap my mind around -- but in reality, no one will come and rescue us.

I guess it comes down to the fact that I can sit here and tell you how worthy you are of everything in the universe, of all the good and that you are keeping yourself in your own personal hell that you deserve to be free from. But I cannot say that because regardless of how illogical most of our thoughts and experiences may be or sound to others- they are VERY REAL to us. Plus- it's so amazing how much easier it is to dish out the good stuff to others but to keep it far away from ourselves.

I was once told to do an exercise where I wrote a letter as a friend to myself- or what would I tell a friend in MY shoes??? I was absolutely paralyzed- how can I possibly perform this exercise - I KNOW that I'm writing about me so everything will be skewed.
Still don't know. Am looking into purchasing some self-esteem workbook.

Just an idea but maybe a bunch of us here could purchase the same self-esteem book, work the exercises and then talk to each other about???