This is very true. I for one can personally vouch for it. My entire life I've always had the hunger to fit in, like anyone else. The need for acceptance was always apart of my everyday. I've developed over my lifetime the ability to mesh well with any person. To make them more comfortable with whatever situation we're in. I've never been in a fight, and have always had the ability to defuse situations with words. I feel it to be a curse as well as a gift. Everyone knows me as the energetic person who brings life to the room. So much so that if I ever carry a somber face or timid tone others immediately ask of my mood. But never have I allowed them to really peel away at the onion. I feel it weak or selfish to illustrate anything different. I always wipe away the face with a smile and reassure whoever that all is well and that they just misread me, that I was simply stairing off or whatever... But the truth is I feel dead I inside. I know I'm not unique in this, and for that I never really speak up. I'm 28 now with a wife and two beautiful little girls who I love with everything. If it not for them, I know I would have already killed myself. But just as I have struggled with this in my youth, it always seems to peek its head up from time to time. Reflecting on past mistakes and decisions. I cried when I read about this guy, I see myself in him. I know that pain. Laughter is something Ive always used to mask the true feelings. This hit very close today because of the month I've had. I'm currently jobless, and in dire need of money at the moment; and I just found out that my tax refund was being consumed by the IRS do to a defaulted student loan. Of which I've paid 14k toward up until last year when I lost my job. I've been making ends meet by repairing computers for neighbors and shoveling snow etc. lately there hasn't been a day that's gone by where I could rest soundly or have the peace of mind that I can pay for things my children need in the future. It's rough, and I am extremely thankful for the food assistance I have received from the state for the past 6 months, without it I would not have been able to feed my family. But even so, I feel like such a piece of shit failure that I can't seem to get it together. I never had a good relationship with my family and it feels awful not having someone to ask for help or anything. I always go full circle with these emotions, and end up silencing my own self pity by thinkin of others. I have nothing to complain about when there are others around the world who somehow have to live of 10 dollars a month or something. Ugh...