a few thoughts about getting better (one of which applies to me ofc)

[steve2470]

2. you're right about the bullet to the head

I think many, if not most of we men have been raised to be highly self-reliant and not to reach out for help. In my situation, I was "forced" to reach out by my parents, and then later on I learned to reach out on my own accord.

You're right about the reaching out for help. If you do not (for whatever reason), it's either a slow or fast trip to misery and self-destruction or suicide.

It's all about survival and happiness.

You either do "what you have to" (no matter how distasteful it may be) or you just suffer in silence. For decades I've chosen to do what I have to, and I'm glad I have. Suffering in silence is just BS in this day and age, IMHO. There's no point to it and there's no nobility or strength or "male macho points" to it. Why not be happy ? Unless you believe in reincarnation, you only get one trip on this rock. You might as well make it a somewhat happy one, despite the fact that the world has been and probably always will be a f******d up place.

Thanks for chiming in Tobin, always glad to see you here!