I totally get that. I too before I got here determined that I would not be one of those people who blamed thier bad childhood for everything. That I was grown up, that I was where I was due to the sum total of choices I had made.... No more blaming. Then, yhe trauma of last summer. The Aftermath Syndrome, the Epic depression, the suicide attempt...Now I have PTSD.... And it all came crashing in. I am both victim but I also know what role I played too. But the crazy thing is my answer to self-reflecting and being responsible for my actions and thier consequences is to CTB! Denial sometimes is a persons last defense against suicide.... for those who are on the fence. I try to take responsibility too, but for some of us, the infrastructure of our own emotional constitution cannot bear the weight of that kind of self reflection, it is a part of the disease itself. This is true a cluster b/personality disorders... So even self-responsibility can't be helpful for everyone at all times unfortunately..... But yeah I hear you, your a strong man with your values... and its got to be hard when values like disciplne, self responsiblility, endurance, self control... come up against despair, hoplessness, pain, depresssion.. it can be a conflicting mess... everyones view is valid under duress imo. You never have to embrace the victim mentality thing, I just hope maybe you can see that that itself is part of the despair, mental ilness, coping mechanism, etc. Its hard because no one likes feeling blamed.... or attacked... we are all sick, hurting people on SS doing the best we can including you.