[LifeIsCruel]

Just a thought, for myself only:

Maybe my depression is a good thing? It means I am realistic and see the truth? That I am an emaciated ectomorph who will NEVER build muscles or have a thick head of hair.So "I" can be the one who makes others feel better about themselves....

Therefore...my life is condemned to:
chronic depression
social isolation
acute anxiety
no self esteem
self loathing

While seeing all others coast thru life...taking for granted the things I desperately need.....

[dandylin]

I don't know that others skate through. I think we all fight our own private battles. But, I do understand how you feel.

[Agentfyre]

I get where you're coming from, but I'm not sure. If your life's meaning is to be the thing that others don't want to be so that they can look at you and feel better about themselves, there's a lot of flaws in that idea.

For one, we need to learn to change our thinking so that our happiness isn't based on others, but rather what we believe about ourselves. So, in a way, if others are only happier because they can compare themselves to you, then they have massive problems with their own self-esteem and need far more than an example to distance themselves from.

On top of that, if this idea is true then that means you're left with a life without hope. If that's all that can come from your life, then what's the point of living?

I'm not saying you should end your life either, not at all. Though I do get the importance of finding the good amongst the bad, this example doesn't sound to me like it's doing that. I used to have similar thoughts of myself, but over time I realized that I wasn't seeing how my depression was good, instead I was only seeing how "I" was bad in every way.

Speaking from past experience, there's far better ways to bring good to others than being "the thing that no one wants to be." Those thoughts often crushed me. What did I have to strive for, other than being the worst I could be for the sake of others? At least, that's what happened to me. Maybe it works differently for you and actually gives you hope. If so, hold on to that hope. It takes so little hope to save a life.

"Maybe my depression is a good thing? It means I am realistic and see the truth?"

No, it is not a good thing and depression does not mean you are realistic and see the truth.

Depression is unrealistic and distorted thinking.
It prevents you from seeing life and it's challenges in a healthy and positive perspective.

When we see things in truth, we accept and embrace life on life's terms.
We all are doing the best we can

[Hellion]

^Actually there are some truths that could make even the most optimistic person rethink if they ought to be embracing life on lifes terms or not....they should hope they don't find those out if they want to keep their bliss.

Also there are some challenges where there isn't a healthy/positive perspective...there is no healthy/positive perspective for some of the things I've experienced.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by Agentfyre

I get where you're coming from, but I'm not sure. If your life's meaning is to be the thing that others don't want to be so that they can look at you and feel better about themselves, there's a lot of flaws in that idea.

For one, we need to learn to change our thinking so that our happiness isn't based on others, but rather what we believe about ourselves. So, in a way, if others are only happier because they can compare themselves to you, then they have massive problems with their own self-esteem and need far more than an example to distance themselves from.

On top of that, if this idea is true then that means you're left with a life without hope. If that's all that can come from your life, then what's the point of living?

I'm not saying you should end your life either, not at all. Though I do get the importance of finding the good amongst the bad, this example doesn't sound to me like it's doing that. I used to have similar thoughts of myself, but over time I realized that I wasn't seeing how my depression was good, instead I was only seeing how "I" was bad in every way.

Speaking from past experience, there's far better ways to bring good to others than being "the thing that no one wants to be." Those thoughts often crushed me. What did I have to strive for, other than being the worst I could be for the sake of others? At least, that's what happened to me. Maybe it works differently for you and actually gives you hope. If so, hold on to that hope. It takes so little hope to save a life.

Actually part of human needs include having supportive people in your life...most people that lack that don't get 'happiness' unless they really are an isolationist and enjoy it. Someone could believe all they want about themselves but if they're stuck in isolation its going to wear on them and get in the way of their 'happiness'. Trouble many depressed people have is feeling alone even if there are other people around.

[Hellion]

I certainly do not think your goal should be having others feel better about themselves because you're in a bad state. I know I don't feel better about myself if I see people in similar or worse situations than me. I get the frustration though kind of hard seeing a lot of reason for existance when experiencing the things in that list..while you see other people who can enjoy things, aren't suffering social isolation, don't have a lot of anxiety, but plenty of self esteem and lack of self loathing makes it difficult.