[ADeepSandbox]

Hello, all. I am new. I have been suffering from depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and other issues for many years. I have recently decided I am tired of feeling like this and have started reaching out for support to work on changing things. I am reading books and articles, doing some writing and exercises, and trying to get a grip on what I need to address. I have a plan to work on things now, which is more than I had before.

I am scared! I'm doing this without professional support. I wanted to ask, please, if you have a moment, to share some encouragement to help me get started in trying to improve my life. Can I do this? Can I stick it out? Can I actually feel better? My aching heart says no, but I will try anyway.

Could you please share a hug, or a few words of encouragement? It would mean a lot to me. Thank you.

[Bill3]

(((((ADeepSandbox)))))

[Open Eyes]

Hi ADeepSandbox, welcome to PC. You are not alone in struggling, you will come across others that are members here at PC that struggle much like you do.

Take things one day at a time, it's good that you are reading and thinking about trying some new things. Patience with self is very important, especially if struggling with low self esteem.

[Skeezyks]

Hi ADeepSandbox: The Skeezyks also does not see a therapist, nor am I on any psych med's. In my case, I strive to employ "self-help" sorts of techniques I have learned from reading Buddhist literature... in particular the writings of the Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön. I would have to admit, though, that I'm not going about it in the concerted sort of way it sounds like you are. But I do what I can.

Yes. you can do this! The one thing I would recommend though (& perhaps you already know this... but just in case...) is that you find a particular "path to follow", so to speak, whatever that is & stick with it; as opposed to trying a little bit of this & a little bit of that, if you know what I mean. I tried the "hunt-&-peck" way of going about this for many years & it simply led nowhere. There are many paths that can lead toward improved mental health. But jumping from one to the other is not one of them, in my humble opinion.

I wish you all the best with your efforts. There are many members, here on PC, who will be rooting for you. Good luck!

Well done ADeepSandBox, it takes courage to confront challenges and you've shown you have that by posting here today and asking for support.

I hope you will find this site and the people who post here as helpful as I have.

Check with your internist (primary care physician) if you're healthy enough to exercise. If yes, then I highly recommend it. I have a recumbent stationary bike in my house, and I peddle 30 minutes per day. Most people associate exercise with physical benefits, but I exercise for the mental benefits. You have neurochemicals in your brain called endorphins, and exercise releases them. The endorphins make you feel great.

I hope this helps.

[Leyla]

hi there
i am in the same boat of as you... have struggled for years with low self esteem. boils down to not "loving myself enough" and seeking it from other's instead.

we can BOTH DO THIS !!!

good luck

[Fuzzybear]

[Yours_Truly]

[Rohag]

Hello & Welcome, ADeepSandbox.

Originally Posted by ADeepSandbox

I have a plan to work on things now, which is more than I had before.

I'm tempted to use the cliché about that being "half the battle," but I do not know if it really is half the battle. Nevertheless, it is significant.

Wishing you the kind of successes that bring happiness in their wake.

[Marylin]

Hello Deepsandbox,

You are not alone,yes you can do this,well done for wanting to they say wanting to is halfway there.Do everything you can,find support groups in your area if they are available.I am myself knee deep in self help books and aim to get my creative side out and express maybe write a book.Whatever you imagine will help your progress do it whether it be make a friend to have regular coffee with or go swimming once every week or regular nature walks.Mindfulness meditation is good to calm the mind and stop negative thoughts,anxiety or racing mind.

Your feelings of worthlessness can be tackled through aiming for goals,once you start achieving things you care about that will help your self worth and self love,it will increase and also help ease off the anxiety and depression.

I hope you find this encouragement helps,I wish you every success and hope it goes to plan for you!

[avlady]

It is very hard for me too to get out of my depressioñ. I see a doc and t both good ones so im not complianing here but it sometimes is hard to find them when i need them most. .

[Marylin]

I am sorry you struggle avlady,I find it hard when no one is available to support me too,depression can take hold and not let go and those times I get weighed down heavy too.I just try to keep busy to distract myself from difficult emotions.

[ADeepSandbox]

Thank you all! I am going to keep this thread to return to when I need a reminder to keep going! You are fantastic, caring, kind people and I'm so grateful to you.

[lita2007]

Originally Posted by ADeepSandbox

Hello, all. I am new. I have been suffering from depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and other issues for many years. I have recently decided I am tired of feeling like this and have started reaching out for support to work on changing things. I am reading books and articles, doing some writing and exercises, and trying to get a grip on what I need to address. I have a plan to work on things now, which is more than I had before.

I am scared! I'm doing this without professional support. I wanted to ask, please, if you have a moment, to share some encouragement to help me get started in trying to improve my life. Can I do this? Can I stick it out? Can I actually feel better? My aching heart says no, but I will try anyway.

Could you please share a hug, or a few words of encouragement? It would mean a lot to me. Thank you.

just wanted to send some love your way. Keep up the good work and always think positive and if all else fails seek professional help

[lita2007]

Just being able to speak out and tell others how you feel is great it sure makes me feel a whole lot better to encourage someone or just to hear someone else story I guess we all are here to help each other smiles love and laughter.

[cheshirekitten]

Your not alone and sometimes I have to tell myself this a lot. I can only imagine how hard it is do it without professional help. But I think it's awesome and brave that your taking the first steps all on your own. *hugs*

[Soidhonia]

Many Loving (((Hugs))). If you want to chat just Private Message. Take care.

[Insignificant other]

You are NOT worthless .. you matter very much. I understand your pain.

[Lost_in_the_woods]

[avlady]

Love is the answer

[avlady]

I sounded like a 1960 hipppie in the last post here

[apples_]

Originally Posted by ADeepSandbox

Hello, all. I am new. I have been suffering from depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and other issues for many years. I have recently decided I am tired of feeling like this and have started reaching out for support to work on changing things. I am reading books and articles, doing some writing and exercises, and trying to get a grip on what I need to address. I have a plan to work on things now, which is more than I had before.

I am scared! I'm doing this without professional support. I wanted to ask, please, if you have a moment, to share some encouragement to help me get started in trying to improve my life. Can I do this? Can I stick it out? Can I actually feel better? My aching heart says no, but I will try anyway.

Could you please share a hug, or a few words of encouragement? It would mean a lot to me. Thank you.

I'll tell you what changed my life. I Started going to this store called the Raven Faerie. It's a spiritual shop. They sell stones/crystals, herbs, books, tarot cards etc. I decided to get a tarot card reading and the lady asked me if I wanted a male or female. Before she even asked me I knew I wanted a male to read my tarot. So that's when I met Darryl. He told me what I've been suffering from is coming to an end soon, that I had a lot of anxiety which I did at the time and all my life. At that time I was on medication and I was still mildly depressed and anxious.

I've had anxiety since 3rd grade, and had been depressed for 9 years. He gave me his card and I left. One day I took his card out of my wallet and read what it said. I noticed something that interested me. It said Mediumship. I had been meditating for about a year maybe a little less and that kind of thing interested me. Sometimes during meditation I would see things so I thought why not call him. I knew they taught tarot classes so I called and asked him if he taught mediumship. He was surprised because no one had asked him that in a while but he said yes and I set up a class. It only cost 25 dollars so it wasn't like I was breaking the bank.

When I started taking the classes my depression magically vanished. What he told me was this. You are what you think you are. That's all it took for me to get over depression and anxiety. He told me a homeless person is a homeless person because they believe they're a homeless person. An alcoholic is an alcoholic because they believe they are an alcoholic. (Not sayings it's not a real disease) What keeps a woman in a bad marriage is the woman who accepts she has a bad marriage. If you believe you have depression and anxiety issues, then you do.

I believed for a long time that I had no personality and that my personality was depression and anxiety because that's all I ever felt and what consumed my life. What you think comes true because you create your own reality. He told me you are the master of your universe. He told me every day he wakes up, looks in the mirror and says I'm fabulous! because he is fabulous. If you change your way of thinking you change your life. I never thought that positive affirmations could do anything but I was wrong.

Have you ever heard of "fake it until you make it?" It was on tv once. Something about this woman who became successful and she was talking about how she did it. She said she faked it until it actually happened. So tell yourself every day that you're happy, funny, fabulous, calm, whatever you want to be and one day it'll happen. Every negative thought from "oh I have a headache to "Ohh I feel really anxious right now" to "Ohh I feel depressed" or "I have depression" or "I can't" becomes true. Who's in control of your life? You are. No one else is responsible for how you feel. Even if something bad happened to you that did create your feelings it's you who keeps you stuck there.

[Lumphead]

Originally Posted by ADeepSandbox

depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness,
Can I do this? Can I stick it out? Can I actually feel better?
.

Welcome to self help!

For all those things; depression, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness you have started doing the best thing. - something! Do something! Some sort of action rarely makes you feel worse, and asking for help is a large piece of positive action.
Pessimism and inactivity will make you feel worse.

Start small; change isn't easy, it will be stressful - you have to take comfort in that! And consider that it will be a life-long habit. - however, don't be put off by that, one step at a time. I like to give myself five minutes at a time. you can always do more, but you never overface yourself.

may I suggest Psychological Self-Help
by Dr. Clayton E. Tucker-Ladd

It's available free online, it doesn't push any singular treatment method, but it does give a sensible framework to organise yourself for the work ahead.

Best wishes & good luck