What does it mean to be emotionally damaged?
EVERYONE has SOME kind of emotional damage. It is self explanatory. Damage is damage. It is not perfect anymore. It still may be operable, but it is not factory new anymore. Emotional damage doesn't have to be irrepairable, unless the person is incapable or unwilling to accept it for what it is and move on. Most of us learn to deal. We learn to deal w/stuff and learn coping methods, but the damage may still be there-it's just like "scarred" over. Some scars last a long time and may never go away, but they heal so that they are still in working condition. Emotionally damaged is what the person makes of it.
How much emotional and mental damage can a failed attempt at sleep training cause?
I think the other two that answered are exactly right. The ideas that float around here in the US regarding "sleep training" are ridiculous. We are one of the only cultures that forces babies to sleep alone from such a young age. Numerous cultures co sleep with their children, and the positives greatly outweigh the negatives in my opinion. I read several articles regarding the physical and emotional impact of prolonged crying in children. It was amazing to see the connections to mental issues, trust issues, and high anxiety as they grew older. That is very sad to me. I tried cry it out, several times to no avail. My son would not let up with his crying. The longest I made it was 45 minutes and that was an eternity for my husband and I. I see no problem with what I am doing now. My son goes to sleep and naps just fine in his bed. If he wakes up in the middle of the night wanting mommy, so be it. I am cherishing these precious moments of snuggling with him and making him feel safe at night. I know one day that he will not want or need my comfort all the time. Some nights he'll sleep just fine in his bed, other times he wants to come to our bed.... I don't deprive him of that. I don't want to offend anybody that has tried CIO and it has worked. More power to you... that's all I can say. If your kid puts up a fuss for a couple of nights for a few minutes, that is great. Glad it worked for you. In my case, it did not work. The look on my baby's face after that 45 minutes of crying was enough for me to say this is not the right method for us at this time. He grabbed hold of me, sobbing and sniveling while looking at me like he was terrified. We cuddled together and he fell back asleep peacefully while I was laying awake silently kicking myself for trying to force this on him When he gets older, and I have to put my foot down, then I will. Not when he is still a baby who wants comfort from his mommy and daddy. Cherish every single moment with your baby, and trust your instincts. Good luck to you!
About weak, emotional, damaged women.. men please answer!?
Yes. So, so much. But I actually am not attracted to strong independant women. I think, in the end, they just let you down. I prefer a relationship where me and the woman in question need one another. I guess that makes me wierd, huh? I just think that's what love is - needing one another. In my current situation, for example, I am in love with a confident, attractive woman... Only difference is she has some deep mental problems, including bipolarity. I feel like I can relate to a woman who needs me more. I feel like I want to help her, and I want her to be the one that helps me with my deep rooted mental problems and insecurities. Am I making any sense? I hope so. I can totally relate to what you're saying, only I am attracted to weaker women than stronger women. But yeah. I feel it is my duty to save women as well. Not that I am some supermodel of a man, but y'know what I'm trying to say I hope. I am... quite damaged myself, I like to have someone I can relate to in that sense