My Support Forums - View Single Post - We Need a Thread or a Board for Poverty and How Abusive It Is.

happysobercrafter · Oct 09, 2018, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnitChick

LL, I can relate. I come from a working class (middle class?) family. I to be honest, have never really felt judged for or even realized the lack of money, back then, or now. I do wonder if it is because...I look normal? I don't have any physical disabilities, and the way I grew up...I don't know. I just didn't know we were poor. There is also wealth in my family. I have good taste in clothes (thrift store finds

). Idk. I really hope I'm not coming off as sounding stereotypical or anything. I'm thinking out loud. I also get financial help from my family, as well as being on disability and ssi right now.

And HappyCrafter, I like that you put lack of love, belonging, and connection (you may not have said all those particular words) in with poverty. I'd like to hear more about this in your thread. I'm curious.

Well, a child who grows up without love or a family to belong to, grows up wanting. All of us have basic needs all of us would benefit from and if those needs are not met, we try to find whatever way we can. That is where we can get into trouble. The longer we go with unmet needs, the more powerful the cravings get.

A roof over our heads, a safe environment, food, air, water, income, belonging, self-respect and respect from others, self-esteem, sex, intimacy and many more are necessary for people to thrive. In their absence, we can get into trouble and if we are not clear on how to fix those problems, we get stuck. People around us may be in better places in their lives than we are. If we can't keep up, it can add to depression already present.

Aren't we trained to always compare ourselves to others? The only comparisons that would benefit us to compare ourselves only to ourselves. Are you doing something better today than you did yesterday or last week? Those are the comparisons that count.