"It doesn’t help me that I’m horrible at cultivating a support network. I don’t reach out to folks as I might, and I don’t really go outside myself when dealing with a problem (save for venting here). “My problems are my problems,” my little brain says to me, “and they’re for me to deal with, alone, until they’re taken care of.” And that’s not always the best solution. "

This is SO me.

And while I wish I had a pearl of wisdom to share... I do think you should go ahead and do the IM for YOU. If you were doing it for any other reason (or, specifically, the approval of any other person(s)), then maybe it wasn't a good idea to begin with. [/my two cents]