You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs. (Such a kind way of saying one-step-away-from-codependent. Just kidding.)

• * Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.(Otherwise I'll just think you're tolerating me because you're nice.) (And really, you could leave me a bloggy comment. If you want. But I don't want to be pushy or anything.)
  
• * Share fun times with me. (I can be fun. Really I can.)
  
• * Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours. (Actually I'll feel like you don't really care about me if you don't share your problems with me as well. That just doesn't feel right to me.)
  
• * Let me know that I am important and special to you. (Man, I sound kinda needy, huh?)
  
• * Be gentle if you decide to criticize me. (Does anyone really LIKE to be hit with a sledgehammer?)
  

In Intimate Relationships - Tony, this part's for you!

• * Reassure me that I am interesting to you.
• * Reassure me often that you love me.
• * Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

• * being able to relate easily to people and to make friends ( I'd be a rotten lone wolf.)
  
• * knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better (Yea, that kinda makes me happy)
  
• * being generous, caring, and warm (Just ignore the PMS days though, k?)
  
• * being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings (Ding, ding! That's why quiet people make me a little nervous.)
  
• * being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor (Well living here on the funny farm, that's pretty much a requirement.)
  

• * not being able to say no (It's taken me years, but I can TOTALLY say No now when needed!)
  
• * having low self-esteem (Well ummm, let's get back to talking about YOU.)
  
• * feeling drained from overdoing for others (Not so much anymore. Really the whole saying No thing helped.)
  
• * not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish (OK that could be true. I've secretly wanted to get a pedicure for years, but just talk myself out of it ALL the time.)
  
• * criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should (Well I do spend a lot of time wishing I could do more for others. The fibro, it, has slowed my "doing" WAY down.)
  
• * being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tune in to them (Go figure. Perhaps that's why they're actually getting things done rather than just sitting around thinking.)
  
• * working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings (I do try to choose my words pretty carefully, but God and I hash all kinds of stuff out just between the two of us.)
  

• * are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism  (Truer words may never have been spoken.)
  
• * try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding (Oh yes, the people-pleasing started early.)
  
• * are outwardly compliant (Hi, my name is Nancy. I love rules.)
  
• * are popular or try to be popular with other children (Note it says try. Again with the people-pleasing.)
  
• * act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention (Insert tumultuous junior high years here.)
  
• * are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Dorises), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Dorises) (I actually think I've been both.)
  

• * are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't) (Thanks hold your applause and the Mother of the Year awards.)
  
• * are often playful with their children (Well the quiz couldn't be right ALL of the time could it? I think I'm more like a stick-in-the-mud.)
  
• * wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?" (Or am I a stick in the mud? What if I didn't play with the boys enough?! Ack!)
  
• * can become fiercely protective (Oh yes, sensitive and nurturing goes out the window if someone goes after one of my boys!)