As someone wanting to be a future psychologist, I'm trying to figure out how to cure the pain. Well, not just that, but I have alot of pain that I'd like to get rid of too. Psychology says that either:

We're generally good people that need to find healthy ways to fulfil our needs
(Maslow type)

We need to tighten up our bootstraps and learn to stop doing bad stuff and putting ourselves in bad situations (Behavioristic, aka Dr Phil)

We need to dig through our past and find out what and how our family influenced our subconcious. (Psychoanalytical)

You may be perceving reality wrong and therefore need to change either your perspectives or that you have something neurologically wrong and need meds.
(Cognitive)

Btw, please note that these are vastly oversimplified statements about each field. *also, these are my views of them, not the definition* I could go on and list psychobio, developmental, evolutionary and so forth. But, to me, those seem to be the main ones emphasized. Plus it'd take alot of time to explain every branch and that's not where I'm going with this. Where I'm going is that all of these don't seem to do a great job of healing the pain. They stop the bleeding and can deal with you if its only neurological, but if you are ready to kill yourself, sometimes the psychology is too scientifical and not humane enough.

The only thing that really seems to make you *or me atleast* feel alright is usally compassion. Not to be confused with pity, because if we believe that someone thinks lowly of us, our ego gets defensive and usually blocks out the message. Unless ofcourse, that person was looking for the pity to reinforce the fact they got it tough. Compassion seems to be an understanding empathy that is non-judgemental and supportive. Now, I think alot of depressed people are looking for others they can identify with and who will geniunely care. Ofcourse, this is tought to find, and that's why many, including myself I think, went *or go* searching for an intimate relationship. Though the thing is, when they find someone in that same boat, it may not be a great thing. I believe that it takes someone who has been on that boat, but learned how to get out of it and swim. So, it takes someone with the right knowledge to get out and someone who gives a damn to perhaps cure the pain. Though, like any deep scar, it'll always be there.

However, this doesn't seem to be the only way. People who are religous claim that God himself helped them overcome thier otherwise insurmountable pain. That still continues to make me wonder about the unseen power. I mean, is it the positive people? The placebo effect? A real Miracle of a loving, forgiving, burden-carrying deity? I'm not sure yet.

Basically, my conclusion could be that I don't think knowing psychological theories helps people, therefore, alot of psychologist aren't always a big help. *unless it's a chemical imbalance* Love seems to be able to cure all. No matter if the source is human or not. Lastly, it also appears that you don't get the respect or attention of the person if you don't have atleast some personal background. The more, the better.

If you came to read about my personal suffering, I'd suggest late 2001 and summer 2002. Though some of those summer entries are private because they may affect my future adversly. If your on my friends list and ask me, I could unprivate it for a day, though if your a first time commentor, it'll probaly be a no. Though that doesn't mean I haven't had pain since. Its just that I'm no longer suicidal. That's all