Norma,

Learning to say "no" forcefully enough so the people who I'd been caving in to believed I meant it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. For a while I went the other way and was saying no to almost anything. Once I learned when to use it appropriately, it became second nature.

Sue, I'm really confused now. If all who communicate with people they don't know on the internet are mentally ill, there must be an awful lot more mental health problems out there than anyone realizes. Also, my therapist told me that writing my story, or anything else, would be one of the most productive and useful things I could do. Frankly, I don't understand where your mental health professionals are coming from. I would find new ones if I were you.