Feeling very alone and I feel like no support I ask for is enough for me.

[browniesm12]

Hi. I'm new here to the whole forum thing so I'm not really sure what to say but I guess I'll get straight to the point.

I've been struggling with self esteem issues for a few years now, I feel very self conscious to the point I do not want to go outside because I feel like I am going to be judged. I panic a lot and tend to get very very down most days and it's hard for me to feel better. I haven't been diagnosed with anything because I'm too scared to discuss things with my parents because I fear they will not get me help or not be supportive or block me out.

I was having a day where I was feeling very down and practically hating myself and I decided to reach out to one of my friends, and after a chat they said I could reach out anytime I needed to. So sometimes when I'm not feeling 100% I'll reach out to her to explain what's going on, which happens more often than not.

I mostly discuss the same problems with her but recently I feel like the responses she's giving me aren't helping me and are frankly making me feel worse than when the conversation started, I know she's just trying to help but I wonder why I can't accept what she's saying and be satisfied with what she's trying to advise me to do. I also feel that after so many talk sessions that go for hours and that have been happening for months, she has started to not care about what I'm saying and is trying to finish the conversation as quick as possible by repeating things a lot. I feel really bad that I feel this way so therefore have stopped reaching out as often but she's the only one that will respond when I message. I'm not sure why I'm feeling this way or what is even happening and I really want to be grateful for her time and what she's saying but it's not helping me, and I'm not sure if anything will. What can I do?

[geoff]

Hello Browniesm, welcome to the forums.

It's awful when you feel this way and as much as your friend may be trying their best to help you, after a while what they could suggest doesn't seem to do anything, they tend to want to finish what's been spoken about, so they do what they themselves want to do, and may have the tendency to disappear because what they say doesn't seem to be helping you.

If the same problem has been raised by you and your friend has replied then whatever she has said hasn't helped, then that's the stage when she doesn't know what to say and could make an excuse to go somewhere else, leaving you by yourself.

Can I suggest you contact Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 by phone, web chat or online, these people are trained counsellors but they dress just like you and me and will help you with these problems, that's not to say that you leave us because we too, want to help you.

Geoff.