Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
It's a long long story (over thirty years' worth) but I think the major MO in my life has been guilt. Followed by fear. And I say this knowing that I like to think of myself as fearless and brave; a survivor. I have survived quite a bit.
I worked myself into a state of anxiety and depression recently (aided by the lack of appropriate medication) and realized I had been pushing myself to exhaustion and beating on myself mentally because I felt guilty. I feel guilty right now being in bed rather than working. My doctor told me to go out and do something fun, but I would feel guilty enjoying myself when I should be taking care of obligations. I know the guilt is hindering my progress.
I grew up thinking you had to suffer in order to be good at what you do - after all my parents always seemed miserable working. They said that being a girl and a minority I had to work harder and longer to be better than everyone else. I believed them even though rationally I know it's a different time now than when they came to the US.
I have been through a lot of therapy so know rationally, my feelings of guilt shouldn't be running me, but I am asking how anyone else out there deals with it? How do you learn to take care of yourself without feeling bad about it? How do you unthink what you've thought for so long? Can you do it? Have you done it?
I worked myself into a state of anxiety and depression recently (aided by the lack of appropriate medication) and realized I had been pushing myself to exhaustion and beating on myself mentally because I felt guilty. I feel guilty right now being in bed rather than working. My doctor told me to go out and do something fun, but I would feel guilty enjoying myself when I should be taking care of obligations. I know the guilt is hindering my progress.
I grew up thinking you had to suffer in order to be good at what you do - after all my parents always seemed miserable working. They said that being a girl and a minority I had to work harder and longer to be better than everyone else. I believed them even though rationally I know it's a different time now than when they came to the US.
I have been through a lot of therapy so know rationally, my feelings of guilt shouldn't be running me, but I am asking how anyone else out there deals with it? How do you learn to take care of yourself without feeling bad about it? How do you unthink what you've thought for so long? Can you do it? Have you done it?
Guilt is a hideous, lurking thing...we think we are over it after we go to therapy and get it all out and talked about and then it can sneak up on us and wham! we are feeling guilty again....for even feeling good.
Anger and Guilt are two of the most crazy things I still deal with and get therapy for off and on also, depress xx hugz xx
My father was/is an unbelievably angry and hostile/aggressive person. He has a disorder which has never been diagnosed because he is too proud and doesn't "believe" in depression (a disease of the middle classes in America is his expression) - which of course makes me mad. But he is who he is and it's not going to change. He turned his anger on all of us for all of our lives. The only reason I don't deal with it much anymore (other than an occasional sideswipe) is because I left home when I was 16 and pretty much have kept minimal contact with him. It's hard to undo all of that damage.