Couldn't sleep, so I finally registered after lurking for a long time.

I'm a little scared, but reading your postings has been helpful. Your writing has brought recognition and tears, but they are healing tears, I hope, hence my name.

Sad to say, the problems of my past don't seem so bad after reading here. But you have reminded me that they are real. I have the scar on my wrist to show for it, and other big trouble in my life right now.

I hope the healing dream will continue. Thanks for the solidarity while I lurked in the shadows. Maybe now I can say something helpful in return.

GOOD MORNING HEALING DREAM,
WELCOME ABOARD. I WISH YOU WELL. I ALSO INVITE YOU TO BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE GENTLY THROUGH YOUR HEALING JOURNEY.
MAY YOUR HEALING DREAM BECOME ALSO BE AWAKENED HEALING.

P.S. YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN HELPFUL IN LETTING US WITNESS YOUR STRUGGLE.
_______________________________ RJD

hello, Healing Dream. As RJD has said, you have taken the first step. healing is just as different as we are different. One takes the steps whenever they feel comfortable. May you continue on that journey, and my wishes for good furtune on that journey. Bosishere

A good place to start might be with sharing your story.

HD,

Taking the first step into this forum is empowering. Regardless of the details of your own abuse, you are among friends here. All you need to be is who you are...nothing more, nothing less.

I have found acceptance and comradery here...among others whose lives have been forever changed as the result of abuse. Even though I can intellectualize about my own abuse, the members in this forum really know what it's like....By speaking their truth they have freed me to know and speak my own truth.

I hope that you will participate often in this wonderful healing process in which we are collectively engaged.

Welcome, mon ami!

Don

HealingDream........... You are a very brave person for taking these first steps. I, and everyone here, am proud of you for that. This healing journey isn't an easy one but the freedom at the end is well worth the effort. I've been around this site for quite some time and I can tell you that the men here are caring and supportive without judgement so feel free to come out of the shadows whenever you want and share what's in your heart. Be gentle with yourself and remember you're worth the effort...... Neil

HealingDream, Welcome to this forum.

I wanted to respond to Your statement "the problems of my past don't seem so bad after reading here". We each have had terrible experiences. It is NOT like you have to Qualify for membership. You don't get Rated, or judged. There is No scale here to size up who had it the worst. NO one is going to shut you out. We don't give out grades on terror. Everone goes through their own Hell.
Your experiences are just as valid, real, & important as mine. As "Just call me J" often says, "we're all in this together". And that IS the truth.................BL

BL,

Thank you for saying so clearly what I have been thinking.... Each of us has done our own fire walk, and the real gift in this forum is that we are travelling this section of our life's journey with some pretty powerful and supportive comrades. I am already healing in so many ways just having had the opportunity to walk this path with you and the others in this forum.

Thank you, thank you!

Don

Exactly, BL & DD -
Pain is Pain -
regardless of how we it came to us

I hope the dreams continue - I believe they are often the result of the inner mind trying to resolve conflicts -

I had a dream where my mother, the perp, who died over 20 years ago, appeared and was sorry for what she had done - it helped me deal with the tremendous anger I was feeling - I still get mad but not in the mind crushing way it was then -

I hope you are able to work with this stuff -therapy, support from others especially here, even meds sometimes, all help us get through it -

there is a reward for our efforts - not having to repeat the patterns we find ourselves in - its slow but worth it - always remember, you are not alone ...thad

Healingdream:

I haven't been here in a while and I apologize for my lack of responses to some of the people who have e-mailed me from here, but I've been so busy lately...anyway, I saw your post and just wanted to say welcome to this place. We are all from different backgrounds and walks of life, and this place has been an amazing way to share our past. It's not going to be easy nor it going to be quick, as you know, but healing will indeed come. Just hang in there and deal it with day by day. Don't feel pressured to post, but don't be afraid to share your feelings either--we're all in this together Take it easy. Later.

HD,

Glad your here, i think you already know this is a good place, i hope your comfort level rises as time goes by.

Glad to have you with us!

John

Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome. (I had some problems posting, so I couldn't respond until now.)

I may not have time to post as much as I want to, but I will try. Your encouragement means a lot and offers hope. Many of you gentlemen seem very brave to have coped so well against such odds. Thanks again for the kind words.

"...so dream out loud." (U2)