9:25 PM   This afternoon I attended my anxiety group.  Although I was the only one in attendance, my therapist said that I should consider it a 90-minute private session.  No matter how you look at it, I thought it was well worth the time.   We talked about what she calls "self-talk.”  That is supposed to be the way of talking negatively about myself.  She had me identify certain negative things I say regarding myself, and then had me prove that what I had said was wrong, and then say everything in a positive manner.  I am supposed to work on this throughout the rest of the week, as well as for the rest of the time I am in her group.   She said that it had become apparent to her, as well as to other group members, that whenever someone suggested something that I could do for myself, I always seem to come up with a reason why I could not do it.  After thinking about it briefly, I realized she was right.  Because of that, she has given me a list of four goals I am to achieve within the next four weeks.   I told her I was becoming self-conscious because of having gone to the mental health clinic for more than a year, and that I was considering quitting.  She said that because of my recent relapses, she and the other members of the staff wanted me to continue with my therapy a while longer.  She said the clinic was there to help people who need it, and they still feel there is more to offer me.  I agreed to continue going there as long as they wanted me to.   My sister and her "boyfriend" came over to have a birthday dinner with me tonight.  I had a good time even though it is still hard for me to accept the fact that I have grown another year older.   I received a phone call from my brother and his wife this afternoon.  They called with birthday wishes and to let me know that they sent me a gift certificate from Amazon.com.  Both of them seem to be in good spirits, and all of us got long nicely.   I want to thank everybody here at DS who has remembered me on my birthday, as well as to those who have given me some much-needed support with regard to my relapses and my increased depression.  I am extremely grateful for all the help I have been receiving.