hmmm reading this over, i realize I have something to add.

Approval of others affects you TONS, especially when you're depressed.
But I think the main goal, the main REASON it affects us so much is our view of ourselves.

So often when we're depressed, we have such bad images of ourselves; we see ourselves in the worst light possible so much of the time. I've called myself "slime" "horrible person" the list goes on... I'm sure many of you have felt that too.

I think, that by learning to approve of OURSELVES, we will need less approval from others. If we TRULY , COMPLETELY believe that we are good people, that we see our good parts and are happy about them, and realize the bad but don't let that get us down, we can be FREE from the need of other's approval.

Because, I think what we look for in approval from others is something to say... we are ok. We're good. We're not slime, horrible creatures.

But, that answer has to come from INSIDE us, within us.

I hope we can all find that belief in ourselves, and love for ourselves.