Nicholas
Well-Known Member
It could be that I am not as good as most other people at dealing with certain things without help. I think I have already said that I am not able to support myself, and rely on family to pay for me to be at Beatty House. Pretty much dependent on other people to get by, in other words, whereas many other forum members seem to have better social skills and work-related qualifications than I do, and are financially independent.
Abusive, alcoholic father. Teased pretty much from the get-go at school because I could not keep up with other children in physical activities [my parents took me to Port Elizabeth for psychological testing on recommendation of the school I was at - I don't know what the outcome of that was - I think I was 5 or 6 years old at the time. My family had to move town several times when my father was still alive and being transferred from one bank branch to another. The whole family was in a motor car accident in 1984 and were lucky to be found in time to be taken to hospital. That could have shaken me up somewhat. Body image issues: eating disorder from age 11 to 24, currently in remission. Came close to dying a few times and went as low as 28kg. Diagnosis of Major Depression with associated anxiety when I was 12 or 13. Made school extra hard for myself by setting unrealistically high standard and working myself to breaking point trying to meet those standards. Teachers and by this time single parent [father committed suicide when I was 14] were very concerned, but my behaviour didn't change until I had a dose of reality at university and dropped out. That I am still alive and have any sort of job at all is thanks to my family and the medical profession. After a few years of living at Beatty House [and being employed] I have mostly accepted my limitations, though I do still hold the odd pity party.
Again, some people are not as resilient as others.
Last edited:
eTenders.
