Thank you! Definitely have to change my inner monologue -- thanks Astrid and Katie. AJ, you also gave great advice. Adorkable, your perspective is interesting, especially since you are coming from a similar place. I appreciate everything everyone has taken the time to say and I appreciate all the hugs too! I'm a big hugger.

Negative thoughts are so very powerful. But positive thoughts are too! I firmly believe that if you change the way you think you will change how you feel.

So sorry you are in this slump. I hope you find the answers you need to turn things around.

Bumping this. Elly? How are you doing?

Zoe, thank you for checking up on me!

I keep coming back to this thread and reading and re-reading and each time I pick up on something new, which has been great when I have been feeling low.

I am trying to take better care of myself and really stop and think about why I am feeling the way I'm feeling when those moments hit.

I haven't decided what I am going to do about my hair. I had another culture/work induced moment this past week when I attended my meeting. Another girl I had worked with earlier this year was also in attendance. We both are of mixed ancestry and weren't raised traditionally--- yet, she has darker skin and more typical features. She was received much more warmly and people spoke with her more, despite the fact that they were interested in work I had done.