Friends come and go; one friend left because she thought that my going to therapy was selfish. In her opinion I was spending all this time with a therapist talking about myself and I should have spent that time with my child.

Some people do not have a clue about different ways people need to care for themselves. Others may need therapy themselves but are too afraid to go. Seeing you take steps to care for yourself can be pretty intimidating or threatening for them.

Of course there are other friends that I have raged and blown up on and kind of scared them away and they don't want to be in that position again.

Thankfully my true friends have stayed with me. Your true friends most likely will too. They may take a break, but eventually they will return. Fortunately people are resiliant and so are you. If old friends do not return, you are a valuable person and new friends will be drawn to you if you let them in.

Most of my friends do not live near me, so we email or talk on the phone. I am sure you will find some friends on this board who can relate to you and have honest discussions. Keep posting and you will never be alone and that will give you courage to talk to people in real life.

The hardest lesson for me to learn was that I am loveable. When I am feeling alone, my dear older friend always says "flash that beautiful smile; that is what draws others to you."

Hope something in this helps.