Achieving self worth is difficult for the Depressed. I have always felt a sense of guilt when anything good happens to me, even as little as a kind word or a compliment, I feel undeserving.

What you have to allow to break through is the fact that people are genuinely honest with their unsolicited words. With your husband it will run deeper than this, he will not love you just for your looks, but as a whole package of personality as well - no matter how undeserving you sometimes feel. You said yourself your colleague could have stayed silent were her opinion different. She chose to brighten your day with a nice word.

Try to make 'Thank you, I have… (positive statement), today' be your stock response, where the positive statement could be 'I'm doing my hair differently' or 'I just bought this top'. Eventually, your mind may start agreeing with your positive words and your feelings of self esteem will rise.

Dave.