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.
Hi everyone. My name is Kelly, I am 21 years old, and I have been dealing with depression for 3 or 4 years now. I want to start by giving a little bit of back story. In high school I struggled really hard after I became an upper classman. In my senior year I had to be pulled from school for the entire first finals week of the year because I was so overwhelmed and other people in my class/school believed I would hurt myself. I ended that year having graduated. But I felt like an absolute failure that didn't deserve to move forward. I was afraid of doing anything at all that could raise anyone's expectation of me, because I believed I would let anyone down that gave me a chance. I have been sedentary most of the last 2 or 3 years after graduating. I have not been able to work any job ive tried, and I have not even seen my transcripts from my senior year, let alone take them to a community college to start school. Recently, I have been actively trying to start taking better care of myself, and pay attention to caring about my well being. I realized that to gain confidence, I needed to start small. So far I've been doing a nightly routine, brush my teeth, wash and moisturize my face, and brush my hair. I've even decided that if it's available, I would drink some kind of beneficial herbal tea that didn't have caffeine, after doing all of this. This is me taking baby steps, and I started to think of a good starting point for myself. So I'm asking myself what I can do to start practicing self love. I can't say I know what self love feels like, so I'm looking to gain any insight, advice, or resources that could help me feel like I'm starting to love myself somehow. I want to understand what self love looks like. I have been extremely uncomfortable with the thought of making myself the focus of anything good... and I want to find something concrete that can help me feel like it's ok to focus on myself. If anyone can give me any advice, or a place to find resources specifically for self love, I would be very very grateful.
These are a therapeutic technique that involve repeating something to yourself until you believe something to be true and develop confidence in the phrase you are using.
Pick one. Stick with one that you want to be or feel would combat your individual problems. Look in the mirror each morning and say it over and over. write it down. pit it in your pocket. when you are feeling upset or affected by your own struggles, you can feel that paper in your pocket and repeat this phrase in your head. Because the truth is - you are beautiful and created by G-d in his image, and He makes no mistakes. You are worthy to be loved.
Here are some you can chose from or edit to fit you. You can also write your own or search affirmations to find one you like:
- I love and accept myself unconditionally.
- I approve of myself and feel great about myself.
- I am a well loved and well respected person.
- My high self esteem enables me to respect others and beget respect in turn.
- I am free to make my own choices and decisions.
- I am a unique and a very special person and worthy of respect from others.
- My high self esteem allows me to accept compliments easily and also freely compliment others.
- I accept others as they are and they in turn accept me as I am.
- It matters little what others say. What matters is how I react and what I believe.
- I deserve all that is good. I release any need for misery and suffering.
- I release the need to prove myself to anyone as I am my own self and I love it that way.
- I am solution minded. Any problem that comes up in life is solvable.
- I am never alone. The universe supports me and is with me at every step.
- I release the past and live only in the present. That way I get to enjoy and experience life to the full.
Hope this helps.
:) Susie