And I'm only 23! Ugh

You're not alone. Most of us have issues to work on and therapy can be very useful for that. If you had a broken leg would you feel ashamed and worthless because you had to wear a cast? There's a useful, rewarding life waiting for each of us. Don't lose out!

Well thanks.

I don't have an answer, but DBT has really helped me a lot with those issues, plus work with my therapist

Yeah, that's a good idea.... I'm in between therapists right now, haven't been seen in a couple weeks, won't be seen till the 15th. I really need to be back in therapy. Thanks for sharing Rachyl.

Do not feel ashamed because you take meds or how you behave off them. If you had high blood pressure, you'd take medication. If you had high cholesterol, you'd take medication. Just because these impact your brain is no big deal. A brain is no less likely to have something go wrong with it than any other part of the body.

yeah, but those problems don't cause you to ruin relationships when you don't take your medication and don't cause you to act a fool all the time. I don't get those analogies.

You know, I think being diagnosed so early is a huge benefit. I know it feels like life is stolen from us for the majority - but to know about the condition is the best thing that could happen for an incurable disease.

You can learn to manage it, fight it when it needs to be fought, and let it roll over you when you really need to relax more than anything.

Therapy and meds do a lot, but once you start loving yourself, that's where the most progress comes from. Of course, we don't know exactly how to go about that - so that's where the therapy works LOL And we can't maintain it, even with the best therapy ever, so that's why we take meds.

So sorry you are feeling this way. The shame can take a while to lift after we have acted out of character.

Sorry to hear people raped you. Assholes. You'll need time and therapy to come to terms with such a violation.

You are in the right place, you are not alone here. It can get better. Please don't be discouraged and keep on trying.

Thank you so much tiredlittle... You are so right.

And thank you darkenedh..... for your kindness, it's just what I needed.

My sister was raped twice and I just found out after 20 years later than when it happened.

I believe my sister has PTSD along with other mental illnesses.

You might need to look into this PTSD for you also.

I frequently think I feel more beautiful now than I did when I was 23 - more than a quarter century ago. I have much less to be afraid of now. I have far more tools for dealing with the demons of my dis-ease.

hang in there, child. It really can get easier.

Hey, the depression is what is making you feel like that about yourself. Are you on medication? About you getting raped, psychotherapy can help with that. I have been going for 3 years about my emotional childhood abuse and negative thinking about myself. I am a recovered bipolar/manic-depressive. I have had this disorder since I was 13 years old, I am now 24 and have been on and off of medication since I was 18. I found the right combination a year and a half ago. I am very knowledgable in medication, I have researched it, I feel I should help others with bipolar disorder because when I needed good advice, I never got it . I had to figure it out on my own. I have been seeing a psychologist for 3 years. It has helped a lot. I hope I can help you in any way :) Don't give up

I'm sorry that you feel so bad. I also have very low self esteem. But I was worse off when I was in my twenties. I went undiagnosed until I was 44. I knew there was something 'different" about me. I just didn't know what it was. I now know it was the bipolar. I still have difficulty dealing with other people. It is very difficult for me to trust anyone. And I have very few friends. But you are at least getting treatment for your bipolar. That is a good thing. I wish I could give you good self esteem. But that is something you have to learn for yourself. I will tell you that you are a good person and even though you have bipolar you have worth too. Everyone does. The first thing you need to do is stop talking badly to yourself. I know how difficult this is, because I do the same thing. But I try to stop myself from doing it. When I find myself thinking bad things about myself, I make a conscious effort to change the thoght to a good one.

I know I talk bad to myself because I believe my negative reminders to be true. Also, I have body image issues and I can remember having these issues back to the 6th grade. I don't think I'll ever stop thinking that my body is distorted and will never be what I want it to be. It's fine in other people's eyes, but not in mine. Lately people have been saying that I'm skinny... but it doesn't change the fact that I don't look good and I am not skinny. The last guy I dated was clueless and insensitive... young guy. He said he thought I should lose weight so I could look more like a super model and then more men would find me attractive.... other things he said really just made me believe that my body just isn't good enough.

I forgot to mention that I have PTSD and I haven't been treated for it.. I haven't talked about all the trauma in a couple years since some of it happened.

It's comforting to know that these issues will lessen over time, I just need to be in therapy. My new therapist (well she's my old therapist too, been seeing her off and on since I was 16) is a psychotherapist and she is really great. She specializes in trauma. I can't wait to see her... the 15th can't come soon enough.

I am on medication. I don't know if I'm on the right medication 100% but it helps me to be a functional person and I do take it twice a day everyday, I don't miss. I could be better at taking it at the same time everyday though...

I've been waking/jogging on the treadmill everyday for the past week and yesterday I skipped because I had ballet and we also did hip hop and line dancing so I was good for the day. But today, I feel kinda down and not really motivated to run. But I have to!!!! It makes me happier and more healthy minded and it helps me lose weight!