Forum Replies Created
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anita
ParticipantAll original posts are back, and so is your Voice, Laven. Hope to read from you soon! 🙏 you for telling your story!
anita
anita
ParticipantSunday Evening stream-of-Consciousness Writing: I can’t save others. I can only save myself, if I can. Can I?
The world is so very messed up that no way do I have the power to fix it.
Am I being negative or just realistic.
Realistic, I think.
So, what am I to do?
To tell you that I love you so.
Wait, what.. what did you just say?
Love. This is what it’s all about. Loving you and you loving me back.
It’s about me being 100% worthy of your trust, your love.
There is no Love without Trust.
Who is saying this?
Me.
Here, I am typing these words. Who is reading? Who is listening? Who cares?
anita
anita
Participant* I just sent an email to the website owner, Lori Deschene, I wrote: “I wanted to reach out regarding a major issue on the forums—all original posts, dating back to 2013, have disappeared, and new posts are not appearing either. This sudden loss of content is concerning, especially since there hasn’t been an announcement or explanation.
Could you provide any insight into what happened? Is this a temporary issue, a planned change, or an accidental data loss? If there’s a way to recover past discussions, I know many members would appreciate it.
Looking forward to your response. Thank you for your time.”-It will be interesting to see what happens next.
anita
anita
ParticipantDear Alessa:
I will reply further in the morning, but for now: I have this feeling that something is wrong: it’s been days since ALL the Original Posts in ALL of the threads since the start of the forums in 2013, all have disappeared. When a new member recently started her own thread, her original post did not show up. There was no notification or update from the website about this.. so, this is very strange.
anita
anita
ParticipantEarly Morning Thoughts: When a person feels fragmented within, they search for external belonging to fill the void. That deep need for connection and meaning can drive people toward healthy or destructive paths.
* Constructive belonging – Finding a sense of self through authentic relationships, creativity, purpose-driven work, and emotional healing.
* Destructive belonging – A search for connection within toxic relationships, gangs, or ideological movements that replace personal identity with group identity.
These groups demand absolute allegiance, making individuals feel powerful only within their structure, reinforcing an Us vs. Them mentality that labels outsiders as enemies or inferior, further solidifying loyalty within the group.
They offer a clear mission—whether political, religious, or cultural—that instills a sense of purpose and importance, even when that purpose leads to harmful actions (e.g., Houthis, Hamas, ISIS, and others).
The journey from self-fragmentation to integration is a path toward transcending suffering of the individual and of society. True belonging comes from self-acceptance, from choosing environments that encourage growth and authenticity rather than blind allegiance.
Transcending suffering is not about escaping pain, but moving through it with awareness—learning that healing comes from self-reunion, self-expression, and self-trust, rather than suppression or avoidance.
anita
anita
ParticipantLate Evening Stream of Consciousness Writing, Whatever comes to Mind:
My goal is to be reunited with myself, following decades-long Fragmentation, a fracture within myself.
I just want me back. I want Integration.
From Repression and Suppression to Expression.
To befriend the estranged me.
Sadly, my fragmentation, self-estrangement, is not unique to me. I see fragmented, self-estranged people every day in real life (in between my online almost-noon streams of consciousness writings and evening writings). I see people yearning to reconnect with themselves.
The fracture within oneself is real, a universal problem which makes any kind of sense of belonging very attractive, such as a life of crime or terrorism. If a person feels a sense of belonging within a gang or a terrorist group, a sense of reconnection with oneself- then that’s the way, all the way to destruction.
I see the fracture originating in childhood: the child needing the parent, but the parent has other priorities, or personal hurts and unfinished business that turns them away from, or against their own child, in one way or another.
The result: a child, shocked. Traumatized. Fragmented.
And the parent may not be able to do any better for their child, fragmented themselves. And the tragedy continues from one generation to the next.
And so it goes, so it is.
anita
anita
ParticipantDear Alessa:
Thank you for sharing more of your perspective—I appreciate your thoughtful approach to these conversations. ❤️
Your insight about how repeated negative messages can be more damaging over time really resonated with me. It makes sense that new criticism feels different depending on past experiences—it’s something I relate to deeply.
I can imagine how tough it must have been to suddenly experience fat-shaming during pregnancy when it hadn’t been a part of your life before. It’s so frustrating how people feel entitled to comment on a pregnant person’s body—as if pregnancy somehow removes basic respect for personal boundaries.
What you shared about childhood neglect struck me, too. The lack of attention from others may have spared you from direct criticism, but being unseen comes with its own painful impact.
I admire how you’ve worked on conflict resolution and are reaching a place where you feel more comfortable handling it. It’s no small thing—engaging with conflict calmly takes a lot of emotional strength.
I wholeheartedly agree that communication is complicated, but conversations like this remind me why it’s so valuable to engage with thoughtful people like you. 💙
Thank you again for sharing your experiences. Wishing you well ❤️
anita
anita
ParticipantAlmost Noon-Time Stream of Consciousness Writing-
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how, in the past, I sometimes came across as confrontational and harsh in tone, more corrective than collaborative, even when that was not my intent.
I’m learning to change this.
I’m learning to Transcend this tendency and communication style—to approach conversations with more openness, softness, and intentionality instead of impulsively.
I realize that my directness and intensity may have influenced others to mirror that same harsh tone and confrontational approach toward me. While I know that I am not responsible for others’ words or actions, I want to become more aware of how I contribute to the dynamics of negative interactions.
If my mother were here, reading this thread, this would have been a precious opportunity for her to lash out at me, saying something like: “So you admit it! You ARE harsh and confrontational! I told you all along that you are BAD, and I was right—see?”
And from there, she would continue, listing all the ways she believes I made her life miserable.
This is why it has been so difficult for me to accept any form of criticism—even when it was gentle and appropriate. Over time, I learned to associate criticism with an invitation for further abuse, a cycle that made it nearly impossible to separate constructive feedback from harmful attacks.
I’m working on rewiring that association—so that I can receive feedback without fear, without anticipating pain, and without the weight of past wounds coloring my perception.
Having said that, I have no doubt that there are people—like my mother—who will never relinquish their aggression toward me, no matter what I say or how honestly I express myself. Some remain rigid in their perception, unwilling to shift their view of me, trapped in their own judgment.
People like my mother would not—could not—refuse to listen, unwilling to recognize or acknowledge anything good about me.
The tragedy of my life has been exactly that—a good little girl, forever seen as a bad person by her own mother.
Being told to “get over it” (as I mentioned in my other thread) severely minimizes the lasting impact of a decades-long experience—a child’s relationship with her mother, shaped in isolation because she was the only parental figure in practice, and there were no positive outside influences—no supportive family members, teachers, neighbors—her words and actions became an unyielding force, defining my world without contrast or refuge.
To dismiss that experience so casually is to overlook the depth and permanence of its imprint.
have three childhood memories of receiving support:
My aunt Suzi’s kindness—though she never confronted her sister, my mother.
My uncle Moris’s attention—that one time he asked me what I felt or thought about something. No one had ever asked me that before.
Rosie, the neighbor, who protested against something my mother was doing to me, saying: “This is not good for her.” I remember her exact words because, before that moment, no one had ever expressed care about what was good or not good for me.
But these moments were not enough to counter or offset the overwhelming influence my mother had on my psyche.
Bringing it back to the present, I am doing my very best to continue to heal from that overwhelming negative influence. My healing efforts are working, and criticism will not accelerate the process—in fact, it can only hurt me, slowing my progress or even halting it entirely.
I grew up receiving so much criticism—or rather, growing inward, as I withdrew from life—that more of it could never do me any good.
However, honest, constructive, and gentle feedback about how I come across to you is different from criticism. That, I welcome.
anita
anita
ParticipantDear Alessa:
Thank you for sharing your perspective. I really appreciate how openly and directly you express your thoughts—your honesty makes your viewpoint clear and easy to understand.
At the same time, you bring a deep sense of empathy. You recognize emotional wounds with care while keeping a balanced, thoughtful perspective, creating space for meaningful conversation. I admire how you blend personal insight with a broader understanding of complex topics, weaving together autonomy, trauma, connection, and criticism in a way that feels both personal and universally relevant.
It’s interesting to hear that being told to “get over it” hasn’t been a trigger for you. I believe tone plays a significant role—if it’s said with gentleness and empathy, I might be able to receive it. But if it’s harsh and dismissive, it’s something I could never accept.
Context matters too. If I ask for someone’s input, that’s one thing. But if I share something deeply personal and someone interjects—uninvited—with a harsh, judgmental, or dismissive tone, that’s entirely different.
Your story about childbirth really struck me. It’s frustrating how people feel entitled to strong opinions about such deeply personal choices—especially when trauma is involved. I admire how you prioritized your own well-being over external expectations, and I think that if I were younger and pregnant, I would have undoubtedly chosen an elective C-section over natural birth for similar reasons.
I also truly appreciate your kindness and validation regarding my past experiences. That meant a lot. 💙
Your insight on criticism being rooted in others’ pain resonated deeply with me. When we recognize that, it can change how we process hurt. Holding space for each other’s pain is so important, and I love how you expressed that.
Alessa, I really appreciate you sharing such personal experiences here. I’m curious—if someone were to criticize you harshly in this thread, regarding the vulnerable things you’ve shared, how do you think you would handle it? Would you brush it off, engage with them, or something else entirely?
I also relate to your view on quality over quantity in relationships. These kinds of deep, meaningful conversations remind me why connection matters so much. 🙂
Looking forward to hearing more of your insights. Wishing you well. ❤️
anita
May 17, 2025 at 5:21 am in reply to: The Betrayal We Buried: Healing Through Truth & Connection #445836anita
ParticipantDear Alessa,
Thank you so much for your kind words—they truly mean a lot to me and brought my first 😊 to my face this early Saturday morning.
I really appreciate you reminding me that even small interactions add up over time. More than just numbers, it’s the connection, the shared thoughts, and the mutual support that make this space truly meaningful.
Your encouragement is a gift. Thank you for seeing and acknowledging what I sometimes overlook.
I hope you’re doing well—I always appreciate hearing from you! ❤️
anita
May 17, 2025 at 5:05 am in reply to: I’m married and feeling guilty over an interaction with another man #445835anita
ParticipantDear Heather:
just want to acknowledge that self-judgment, overthinking, and anxiety aren’t easy to experience. They can feel exhausting, overwhelming, and deeply ingrained. I know this firsthand—I struggled with severe self-judgment for most of my life and only recently found relief.
I also want to remind you that none of this is your fault. These patterns don’t just appear out of nowhere; they’re often shaped by childhood experiences (the so called Formative Years, the years that formed us). But they don’t have to define your future.
If it ever feels helpful, I’d be happy to share what helped me find relief. No pressure—just know that you’re not alone in this. 💙
anita
anita
ParticipantThe longing hums, a quiet, loud plea,
A wish for warmth, for depth, for We.Like stars that speak beyond the night.
The longing hums, a whispered plea,
For arms that hold, for eyes that see.A word, a step, a reaching hand,
A space where hearts can understand.
Beyond the silence, past the doubt,
A light that flickers, burning out.We touch, we break, we long to be.
anita
anita
ParticipantMore: Strange, it’s not about seeking approval, or even acknowledgement. After all, I don’t even know if anyone is reading this… wait, no, wrong: there’s always something I am seeking: connection, more connection.
It is amazing how Emptiness that felt Eternal closes in upon itself, resisting the connection it longed for, for too long.
We people needing each other, yet resisting, pushing each other away.
anita
anita
Participant* no, no: no longer suited to jumping, I am definitely suited for dancing 💃🕺🎶🎉✨
anita
Participantno longer congruent with jumping.. or no longer suited to dancing 😊
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