Hi BC,

I've felt the way you've felt before and will probably feel that way again some day, but when I do, I just remind myself of exceptions to the rule, an example when I did do a good job, helped someone out, made a sacrifice for someone else's good, etc. Then I try to get to the root of why I'm feeling so down and address that issue separately.

Look at how absolute your statements are:

"I've caused nothing but harm to the people around me."

"All I do is create more and more reasons for people to see me as the horrible useless existence of a human that I've been."

You're basically saying that you're absolutely perfect at being evil and worthless.

With all do respect, I am as skeptical of that idea as I am of someone who says they've never made a mistake, hurt anyone or done anything selfish. I just don't believe it.

There has to have been an example of a time when you messed up and actually did something right, helped someone out, blessed someone in some way, made a sacrifice for someone else's well being, etc.

If not, go find a homeless person and give them a dollar or two. The minute that money changes hands you'll have to start saying:

"I've caused nothing but harm to the people around me . . . except for that one time I gave a homeless guy $10."

"All I do is create more and more reasons for people to see me as the horrible useless existence of a human that I've been . . . except for that one time I gave a homeless guy $10."

Do one more thing and you can add that to the list:

"I've caused nothing but harm to the people around me . . . except for that one time I gave a homeless guy $10 and I helped my neighbor move in."

"All I do is create more and more reasons for people to see me as the horrible useless existence of a human that I've been . . . except for that one time I gave a homeless guy $10 and I helped my neighbor move in."

Add enough things to that list, and it will start to look absurd, and you'll have to give up on the idea that you're no-good, worthless, good for nothing, etc.

"All I do is create more and more reasons for people to see me as the horrible useless existence of a human that I've been . . . except for that one time I gave a homeless guy $10, and that time I helped my neighbor move in, and when I donated my car to charity, and when I stood up for my friend when someone was bad mouthing him when he wasn't around, and when I gave that single mom $600 bucks so she could still pay her rent after paying for an unexpected car repair, and that time my boss said she really liked my work on that project, etc. etc."

Either start making a written list or start making strong mental notes to yourself. Once you do just one right thing or one good thing, you can no longer make absolute statements about being absolutely worthless.