Can you trust your true friends?

[dumb bunny]

You definitely aren't worthless, can't really say on the lush/hussy part though:p

Not many people bother any more with seeing if something is going on, so you did well in my book.  And a child could indeed be having an "episode."  I heard a few in the store scream bloody murder and sound as if alligators are systematically eating their toes one by one just because they can't have two candy bars instead of just one. But good on you for checking up on it:)

[MadelineB]

I KNOW what I heard! I know that child(Male from the voice) was in a "Bad" place! See, if I wasn't a "LUSH/Hussy", I could have maybe helped that child!  Guess I know why I'm wothles!

Hi DaniStarr,
If Susans banned people for caring deeply about their neighbors, or for sharing secret things about themselves that they feel ashamed of, there wouldn't be any members left. You are home here sweetie, and this family doesn't hit. As long as you can be kind and respectful of others, you will always find a listening ear and welcoming arms, whatever your problems.

If you are a survivor like me, you may find yourself hypervigilant about children in trouble, and feel adrenaline course through you when you think a child is being hurt. It is good for society that there are people like us, always on the look out, never de-sensitized. Dumb Bunny is right, there are kids who habitually scream like they are being tortured as part of a freak-out that may be part of their condition or mental illness. It is still good, especially when you are sober, to pay extra attention and make sure the child seems ok and that nothing bad is going on. Families are always helped when good hearted neighbors take an interest. Often it is family friends, teachers, or physicians who know the child over time who can see the signs and make the call to child protective services.

If you find this happens a lot, that you get disturbed about things that other people don't, if it affects your sleep or you ability to get out of the house, to meet people, or to get things done, if you find that you have to drink or engage in other numbing behaviors just to be able to calm down, to relax, or to sleep, then you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder or from PTSD.

Both are very treatable with the right therapist, but self-medicating with alcohol loses its effectiveness over time and makes you increase your dosages until you are causing more problems with the medicine than you have from the symptoms you are trying to treat. That does NOT make you a bad person, it makes you human. These are injuries that need treatment just like any other, and the best thing you can do is seek help so you don't have to try to handle them alone.

You aren't alone and you certainly aren't worthless! Whatever is eating you, you have a right to start feeling better and start feeling better about yourself.

Hugs,
Madeline

[Felix]

The way people are is why I don't believe in unconditional love.

Unconditional love mostly seems to work with kids and animals.

[justmeinoz]

Don't judge yourself harshly Dani, you put the parents on noticed if there was something happening.  If there is a repeat, I'd just call the Police.
You did good sis.

[Paige0000]

Mabye its just me being a overly Loyal but I do place trust in my true friends. True friends imo are named true for a reason.

[Taka]

i have a few friends whom i'd consider trusting with pretty much anything. not that i'd tell them everything just because of that, but i truly believe that they'd accept me in all my weirdness, since my experience is that they see the person i am rather than the facade i put up in order to conform. but they aren't more than what i can count on one hand, and that's how many i've managed to gather through my whole life (which isn't really all that long, i'm not even 30 yet)

generally i don't trust people at all though. even out of all the people here whose posts i've read, i think there are only two whom i might consider trusting if i suddenly feel like i really need a friend who can take a little more of me than what i usually show. not that i don't like the rest of you, you're all wonderful people. i just never had enough good friends or older family members to learn how to trust a person blindly

[RedFox]

I think there absolutely is such a thing as true friends.  if you find you can't trust someone then they obviously aren't a "true" friend.  I have some very close friends that I've known for 20 plus years.  I came out to them first (before my wife even) and they were all very accepting.  When I asked my best friend a few weeks later how he was feeling about me, he seemed confused by the question.  His response was "you're my best friend, I love you.  Why would that change?"  That's a true friend!

As for unconditional love or acceptance?  No such thing.  I parent's love for a child is the closet thing there is, but if one of my kids grew up to be a sadistic serial killer, I'm pretty sure that would cross the line.

As much as my friends love me, if I came over and shot their dog or did something equally horrible, I'd probably have crossed the line.  Friendships are built on trust and mutual respect - that takes time and shared experiences.  But it only takes a minute's thoughtlessness to destroy it.  But if your a good person crossing that line shouldn't ever be a concern. 

As for that issue with your co-worker, I say rise above it.  Treat her with the respect that she's not showing you.  Be cordial and polite.  No need to perpetuate things by being cold in return.  If she's as smart as you say she is perhaps she'll realize she's being immature.  And is it possible that her problem isn't you, but something else - that you're just getting the aftereffects of?

[Elsa]

There are some people in your life who just touch your heart and soul in a way that they can never be truly separated.

I've had some very bad friends as well as a lot of fickle friends.
But I've been blessed with a few really close friends and more if you count my brother, who know me so very well and have supported me through a lot of things.
Some of whom have been out of touch for a few months or years because of geographical locations, but they almost always are there for me when I need someones shoulder to cry on.
Some  who have disowned me intially but came back to support me.

I can never show how truly grateful I am to having them in my life and I pray each day that they are ok and are able to take care of themselves.

Sometimes life throws stones at us that make us wanna crawl away but all we can do is hope.

There will be times when we are surrounded with a lot of people who cannot be trusted and we should always be on guard with them.
But there are a few, who come very rarely into our lives, who earn your trust and respect and deserve it in return.

[Chamillion]

If you can't trust them, they're not true friends.

Was going to post the same thing. Using the definition of a true friend, yes, you can trust them. I have only 2 people I consider this type of friend but I would trust them with anything.

I used to have the "don't trust anyone" mentality. You might get hurt less, but you enjoy life less too. Good people do exist, I know it for a fact!