These words meant a great deal to me when originally posted. They link now to another post so I hoped no one would mind me 'bumping' this back into our midst.....Thanks Empowered!

Oh god! I needed that today. I had a flashback so bad I vomitted in the middle of a restaurant! Mockingbird... your bump + Empowered's words = the answer to my teary prayers tonight...

also, I have a new poem I wrote in my journal and comments would be greatly appreciated. (oh it's triggering)

I love you all!

Empowered,

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I am so happy that you posted this again. Your words are powerful and give us hope.
You are such a constant here on DS, and for many of us you are the first man that is safe to trust.
When we are going through rough "stormy" times; you, through your words and support here on DS, provide some shelter for the storm we are facing, so we have time to reflect and make the best choices for us and our lives.

You are a rock in our DS community.

Thank you so much

Thank you, like always. For being here for so many of us when we need it and adding your presence here means a lot to so many.

Wow, to be a trusted man means so much--it's probably the rarest thing in this community. I appreciate that feedback.

I realize I can't be helpful to everyone--and frankly, my code of ethics forbids me from doing anything like "therapy" online, or I could get fired--but I try to be.

It is time for us to read this again. It is always the right time to know this is true of each of us....we ARE amazing, and it is always nice to be told so!

i just read this and feel like it needs to be back at the top...reading what you wrote and reading the worth that you have for all of us revives my worth in myself...that even in the midst of all this pain we are all apart of something that we all have to stick together to overcome...its not been too long ago that i had lost all my worth in myself and was ready to just completely give up...but reading everything here and all the encouragement made me realize that i am worth fighting for...we all are..i dont just feel like im fighting for myself i feel like im fighting this for everyone...when i was in my darkest hour reading the posts of others who were in the same spot at one time and seeing how they overcame helped me to fight...and knowing how much you empowered value us and fight for us gives me even more strength to fight...because i hope that maybe one day someone who felt like i did will read my posts and maybe it will help them...im just in the beginning of my counseling and i know its gonna be a long hard trip..but with this site and ppl like you i really believe that i can do it...that im worth doing it for...thank you thank you thank you...you are doing priceless work...

Thank you. Months later, I feel the same way.

This hasn't always been an easy journey for me, either. Being a male, and being a therapist, has made me a lightning rod for strong emotions on DS. For example, I knew that there would be people who would reject me with anger, considering me a voyeur and alien who doesn't belong, no matter what I do here. And despite my best efforts, at times that has happened.

I knew others would approach me with an exaggerated belief that I held some answer to their pain, that as a therapist and male I could serve as their guide through recovery. And despite my effort to resist that role, at times it has happened anyway.

I knew that some people would want me to fulfill a therapist's role here, walking them through this difficult journey from across the internet. I can't. I have no special ability to fix crisis from a keyboard. And despite my best efforts to keep that limit, at times people have still felt rejected or abandoned when I wouldn't take on that role with them.

I knew that some people would freely give away their own glory and their own strength, choosing to believe that their successes are due to other people--me or anyone else--rather than giving themselves the credit. I've never sought that credit, don't want that glory, and don't deserve that honor. Yet despite my best effort, at times that has happened.

I want to be as clear as I can: I think I'm a good person. I like the man I am, and am becoming. But like everyone else, I am just as flawed and just as fallible as anyone, and am no more deserving of accolades. Less so, in fact; this community inspires me with a passionate desire to respond and contribute, but it is YOUR strength and YOUR success that carries the day. I have never lost sight of that from the moment I started here, and I need to say it again and again: YOU are the amazing community.

Thank you -we do try to keep being strong and level and brave, do you know, I think it's working! :-)) Thanks. It's great to have the chance to support others with similar experiences as well as myself.
Much love, thank you for ALL you do xx

I was not on DS when this was posted. I am glad someone brought it to the forefront again. Everyday I think of another reason to stay on this earth. Thank you for giving me a reason.

ok ive heared a mixture of things from others abt u!!!!!
im not making jugement on that becuz its creepy... but i feel this is a gd piece and feel mayb u were abit understood.. x

Bump. Just feeling happy today and wanted to share the good feelings.

Reading through all of this, it is obvious that the controversy has been going on for some time. I wish I had seen this before I joined that awful group and was attacked so ruthlessly.

hi, I'm a newbie, although I'd lurked for a long time. I wasn't really getting that post until I caught "some of you can't even type the word___" I would be one of those. I can't say it or anything. Then I went back to the beginning and re-read, and WOW. If this community is that helpful, then I have found the right place.

No one in a long time has said I'm worth much. You really stunned me with that. Thank you.

This Is Lovely.