Anita

I do not agree with you regarding the relationship from the beginning in child hood in this situation. I spent a lot of time with her, she was very much nurtured as it was our plan for me not to work raising our children. My observations regarding parents whose kids turned out well or gave them no grief was that they felt they did a good job (and credit to them). Those same parents would say that kids that don’t turn out alright must have done something wrong. How about considering that kids are just hardwired when they are born, we can influence and guide them as much as possible, but in the end they are who they are. I would just like some acknowledgement, that’s all.

Inky

In that respect we share phonees (Yes I pay for that too, until she’s left school). So I send her a reminder for my birthday and my husband’s birthday next year. Hopefully she will get the message. Or maybe I could just forget hers!

Daydreamer – just read the Wikipaedia on depersonalization – symptoms can be classified as either depersonalization or derealization. Depersonalization is described as feeling disconnected or estranged from one’s body, thoughts, or emotions. Individuals experiencing depersonalization may report feeling as if they are in a dream or are watching themselves in a movie” This is not me, my problem is taking on, feeling, and being mentally pre-occupied with others problems than my own. Thanks for the comment though.

Anita – I believe I am an empath – that I do feel others emotions, it is almost like I take on their auras, their pain. At the same time I can easily become apathetic in helping myself. Sometimes, I think my purpose in life is to be empathetic with people, sharing and helping other people, and I seem to attract people who need emotional help. This seems to feel the “right” thing to do – but like a battery, at times I feel run down and wish I wasn’t like this. When I say apathetic, I find it takes too much energy to emotionally and physically to help myself.