Well, hey there! Welcome. ^_^! I want to congratulate you on coming here to share your struggles. As you will see, you are certainly not alone and, yes, knowing we are not alone either and that there are hopeful fellows like you, here, definitely helps. I’m sorry you’ve been going through such difficult times. Keep in mind that maybe your ex wasn’t knowledgeable or educated enough to treat you the way you deserve but that it doesn’t reflect what others think about you, automatically. I know it still hurts but, at the end of the day, going through these things, you will learn that it’s true what they say: “Those that mind don’t matter and those that matter, don’t mind”. Stick with the people who get you and don’t judge you. You deserve no less. Also, I used to minimize my suffering or process by comparing it to others, saying that there had to be so many people that have it worse than I do but looking at it that does nothing for them nor me, does it? Just as you wouldn’t be mean to someone who went through something they thought was less hard than your own experience, but still hurt them enough, right? Our pain is our pain and it deserves just as much care and attention than anyone else’s because it’s real and it matters. If we ignore it or downplay it because of the notion of it being “less than”, then that definitely opens the door for it to become bigger and bigger, eventually, don’t you think? Everyone’s life experiences and pain levels are valid. After all, you wouldn’t tell a beloved friend to “quit their whining because there’s others out there who have it worse”, if they came to you for respite, right? I’m sure you would seek to comfort and support them, so why on Earth would you deserve any different? Just a thought. Hope it helps! ;)! Thanks for the friend request. I hope we can be of positive influence to each other by just sharing of ourselves. I also wonder, I’ve never been in snow but I have heard of these lights that are made specifically for people who suffer from seasonal affect disorder. Ever looked into getting one? Might help. Well, look forward to more of your entries! Take care. Much love, always, Alex.