Nana - i am sorry you are feeling so bad and i am sorry about the family problems. You must not feel responsible, for whatever they are, folk need to find their own way. We took my mum to the garden centre today, she seemed to perk up a bit, she bought some weed killer :) She has picked up over the past few weeks, she went back to her GP last week and she prescribed mirtazipine which i was relieved and about. She hasn't taken them which was partly my fault because i told her that she mustn't forget to take them, which i think she might as the minute she lays on the sofa in the evening she falls asleep. I also know she wont continue with them past the difficult first few weeks. Right now though she seems alot more at peace with the world - long may it continue! Did you take mirtazipine? what were the initial side effects like?
Welcome thinking - I think we all lose ourselves or who we think we are along the way somewhere, i certainly don't recognise myself as the person i used to be, so instead of not liking the person i have become and trying to get back to the person i was, im trying to like who i am now - its not easy because i want to be the young and carefree person i thought i was - but you know what, rose coloured retrospecticals (i just made that word up!) Looking back on my life i can see i have always suffered from insecurity, low self esteem and anxiety - always. Just like you i was an extravert and sociable, but i never really felt it, not really, so am i any different? i don't know. Maybe i am just more honest with myself now. May i as why you don't want ADs? it may be that they would help you, but of course it is very much personal preference and i don't think any of us would be on them if we felt there was another way.
I think all good parents question their parenting, i think that society nowadays puts on so much pressure to be perfect parents to our children, that our children's needs totally trump ours and that our own needs and desires are a long way down a very long list - i don't think this is ok, because who are we doing it for? our children? I'm not so sure - its whats expected - I think there is going to be a generation of spoilt brats emerging in the next ten years or so, i really do and us as parents will be thinking its because we didn't try hard enough, when actually, we try too bloody hard.
I know what you mean about people - i do have scenarios in my mind where people who have shown their true colours to me, fall on their own sword, i think its perfectly normal to feel like that, wanting karma to do its job. Never bloody does though :)
Ciq I hope you are feeling ok this weekend, i always look up to you as someone who shows that things really can improve, no matter how hard it is - i think you always try, what else can anyone do really?