Deliberate Sabotage

Hi,

My name is Laura. I am 19 and have suffered, on and off, from depression since I started school. Right now, I have a job, a moderate circle off friends, and a clear head. I can concentrate, and I can sleep and this is a wonderful situation. In spite of all the wonderful happenings in my life, I still seem to focus on all the negatives in my life: the university program that I had to quit, the boyfriend I do not have, or the other imperfections I see in my self. I know that this preoccupation with the faults in my life will do nothing to help improve its shortcomings and will do nothing more than accelerate my re-decent in serious depression. So why of why do I ceaselessly continue in behaviour that I know is self-destructive.

L.

<font color=purple>A positive attitude will not solve all your problems,
but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort]</font color=purple>

Because that's the pattern we get into, and stopping it isn't easy. Ruminating over the things that bother us is typical of people who have trouble with depression. If you can, try to change the channel in your head when you notice those thoughts. Being aware of what you are doing gives you a humungous advantage for being able to do something about it. Cognitive therapy addresses that, so that would be something to consider, or in your case a self-help book with a cognitive focus might be enough since you already have the awareness of the thoughts you need to change. You'll find some recommendations under book reviews on this website.


<font color=orange>There is an easy answer to your problem that is neat, plausible, and wrong.

</font color=orange>

Hello welcome to the group. Being new myself I don't really know if I have the right to give advice yet but here it goes being 19 myself and in school I can totally feel what your going threw. Always seeing the negitive sides of things even if people around me insist that I've got good things happening for me, one thing I have found that helps is just talking about it and friends always come in handy for that.

Thanks to all of you for responding. I have in the past seen a psychologist, but not for the depression, and regardless I find myself unable to talk about anything if I'm not currently in some form of crisis and even then it's hit and miss. I am quite aware that by resricting the scope of the therapy and am reducing the healing effects it has. I do find myself quite self-aware and often am able to solve my problems without outside help so perhaps a self-help book would be enough of an asset, if not I can give therapy another go, but who knows if ti would be terribly helpful given my untrustful attitude.

L.

<font color=purple>A positive attitude will not solve all your problems,
but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort]</font color=purple>