Do You Like Yourself? Your Thoughts are Welcome!

[blondguy]

Hello Everybody and new posters especially:-)

I have had anxiety since 1983 and depression from 1997. There is always someone that says 'You have to Love Yourself' before recovery. When people are suffering from anxiety/depression this may be the last 'advice' they really need. This is only my experience when I am 'advised to love myself' to rebuild my life. I have heard the following from people that cant 'love themselves' which is fair enough as I am a person that cant either. Your thoughts will help me and others learn from your point of view. I can only be 'gentle' to myself to heal...not love.

• Why should I love myself if I dont in the first place?
• I am in a dark place, how can I love myself?
• I dont deserve to love myself
• I am depressed...How can I love myself?
• I have mega anxiety attacks..what is there to love about myself?
• I hate myself and what I stand for...why should I?
• I love my partner more...I will care about myself 'later'

When people have depression/anxiety/denial they dont need to be counseled with ' love yourself'. Thats a huge ask.

I dont need to climb Mt Everest by trying to love myself when I cant. It can be an unrealistic and even silly target to achieve having depression

I just prefer to be 'gentle' to myself. Same results and way less stress 🙂 Your thoughts/opinions are more than welcome

Thankyou so much

Paul

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone and thankyou for being a part of the discussion too!

Hey Katy! You mentioned 'wondered if there's a thread where we can write things we do like about ourselves?' You are always welcome to post anything you like about yourself here...which reminds me...I must do as you have suggested...Thankyou heaps Katy

Hi Tayla....Quirky....Grandy....Moon!....RX....The Big Blue....Thankyou for your super input which makes this thread so welcoming to new and existing people

my kindest always

Paul

[ecomama]

Hey Katy

I LIKE your suggestion very very much about starting a thread stating things we like about ourselves!

WHY NOT. 😁

Plumping up the Staying Well sections is great for some balance here and those joining can feel "wow, there IS hope".

I like quirky's suggestion of "The 3 things..." theme we seem to have on the forums too.

Are you going to do it Katy?
If it's okay with Paul to let us know here if you do, that would help me lol as I find myself staying in the "My Threads" mostly when I have alot going on.

Okay.... to answer the question do I like myself?
Sure why not.

When posed with this question earlier on this thread, I used to try to think of WHY.

But now I know I don't need to give ANY reasons whatsoever.

I can just like myself regardless.

I think you're ALL awesome coming on to the forums, sharing the deepest thoughts and what's going on and supporting so many other people in the process.

True Champions!

For this I'm forever grateful.

Love EM

[blondguy]

Hey Bionic Woman (EM) !

Its always a treat to read your posts EM.....and YES...this thread is open for anyone that wants to post examples of why they like themselves...or reasons why...or just good vibrations 🙂

'You are always welcome to post anything you like about yourself here' Katy... EM or anyone else too 🙂

Hugs

Paul

[TheBigBlue]

I’ll start it off!

I just posted in another thread, but today I am proud of myself because I joined a football (soccer) team.

I don’t know a single person on the team (haven’t met them yet), just saw a social media post that my local club needed players. So I inquired & just like that I am in!

I would normally avoid it, feel sorrow over not trying to join, regret blah, blah blah. But I saw the post, I messaged & I joined 🤣

I’m actually excited about playing again. Haven’t played since I was a teen

[Guest_1584]

Hi to one n all.

And mb , ya don't get of the hook that easily l'm afraid we all seem to like you round here , so there, smoke that haha. And moon, so sorry no body can hear it , l really wish they would for you , but it's really nice none the less to hear you do like moon , good for you n why not eh everyone round here likes moon too.

So whatdollikeaboutmyself , pauls right this is really the thread for that too. There are some things l do like , not sure of just what exactly but l'll think about that.

rx

[Guest_4643]

Thanks randomx, I appreciate that and it means a lot. I often feel like I'm not valued here, and that's not for sympathy and attention, that's just me putting myself down.

I like everyone here too, on the forums in general. It's like a safe haven here, in my opinion. Like we all understand each other and we don't judge.

I often question if my replies and support are good enough, I try my hardest, I don't feel good enough in general and I've felt that way since I got depression etc.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

TheBigBlue - your post made me feel warm and gooey. I'm super happy for you.

Aaaaannnnddd.... I realised I like that about myself. So, there's that.

Tayla - questioning whether your replies and support are good enough means you care. We all see you caring and reaching out to people, and you can be super proud of that. You are very much valued. Thankyou for being here x

[Guest_1584]

Noooooo mb never feel that , never. You give of such a nice feel about you it's always nice to see you about.. But hey l think we probably all wonder about our replies or any help we try to give though too but that shouldn't be in an is it good enough view , the support alone , even just saying hello is good enough , never ever worry about any of that. It's only natural to wonder if we said the right thing for the situation though or if it came across the right way or something, sometimes l think l'll just keep my mouth shit. But eh it really is the thought that counts, even just a hi can help a lot so don't fret any of that stuff hey.

rx

[blondguy]

Thankyou TheBigBlue for jumping in and good on you for joining the soccer club especially when you didnt know anyone! That takes strength...Congrats!

Hey RX...Thanks mate! Just to explain this thread topic......I wrote it because I was hopeless when it came to looking after myself first instead of everyone else.

[ecomama]

Hey Paul, hugs right back at ya 🤗 lol.

WELL DONE TheBigBlue! I'm SUPER proud of you just GOING for it!

I'm sure you're going to have LOTS of fun and friendship playing soccer again, that's wonderful.
⚽⚽⚽

EM