"Enjoy every moment" and similar sayings

[azarrah]

Do these stress anyone else out? I often resolve to myself, especially after seeing something about people who have terrible lives but are full of joy and peace, that I should be more like them. After all, I have everything going for me: I'm healthy, I get good grades, I'm financially secure...the list goes on. So then I tell myself "I should really appreciate things more and love every minute I have in this life."

And then I get stressed and sad, because I'm not doing that. I feel bad, ashamed even, that some people have such awful things happen to them, and yet they stay positive and motivated, whereas I have a great life and I don't have either of those things. It just makes things worse!

I feel so entitled posting this, even, but I'd love to know if I'm alone with these thoughts. Have you ever felt this way?

[BballJ]

Hi azarrah,

This is an interesting post because I have actually thought this way before... When I feel down or upset and I think about others who have it worse and say to myself how can I feel down or upset when they have it so much worse than me? It is an interesting thing our mind is doing to us I think. The way I look at it rationally is that every one is entitled to feel down or sad at any given time. We can't compare our situations to anyone.. it's like looking at the person who drives the nice car and has the nice house and saying well they can't be upset because they have everything but you just don't know what happens behind closed doors. The people who are going through tough times may use positivity to get them through each day, they find being happy and smiling is there escape. Your situation is your situation and you are entitled to feel how you feel, no one can and should take that away from you.

My best for you,

Jay

[Mr_Walker]

Yes I've felt that way too! I think it's a way anxiety and depression has of making you feel like it's your fault you're not happy - or not as worthy of happiness as other people...

[Coffeebean]

I've realised that depression and anxiety don't discriminate. The illness doesn't look at you and say "Well, she's got a nice house, and a nice family. Better leave her alone." And I think that makes it worse. Not only are you depressed, you then also feel guilty about feeling depressed, and you delay getting help.

[azarrah]

Thanks all, I'm glad I'm not alone in this! And thank you for pointing out that MH issues don't discriminate - that's a lovely way of putting it and made me feel a bit better 🙂