[DechanDawa]

I have the feeling this is the worst period of my life.

I think of other times and try to tell myself I have been through worse and survived.

Does this happen to you? Logically, maybe this isn't the worse period, but it feels like it. I actually feel like I can't survive this period.

Why do I keep comparing and keep coming up with this as the worst ever period?

[Skeezyks]

I personally know this is far from the worst period in my life. In fact, objectively, this is probably one of the best in a lot of ways. Sometimes I'll see news reports, or read posts here on PC, regarding the terrible things that happen to people. And I realize how incredibly fortunate I've been by comparison. But I still get seriously disheartened realizing that my life is almost over & this is what I have to show for it.

I think at least part of the problem is that what I'm experiencing in the present is right here now. While, stuff that happened in the past, is just memories. I liken it to the difference between being in a storm versus watching one from a distance. Even if the storm one is in isn't the worst possible, it's going to seem more so than a more intense storm viewed from a distance... if that makes any sense... At least that's the way it seems to me...

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

Logically, maybe this isn't the worse period, but it feels like it. I actually feel like I can't survive this period.

Why do I keep comparing and keep coming up with this as the worst ever period?

Maybe because we do not presently know exactly *how* we will actually survive it? Just guessing there, but I share your struggle. Even at this very moment I wonder a bit about how well I will do for the remainder of this particular day, but past experience suggests I will either have what I need or find something helpful along the way.

[gayleggg]

I personally do okay with the present. It's the future that I struggle with. I imagine that doom is coming and that I won't be able to handle it.

[Yours_Truly]

I feel no matter how I look at my future it seems messed up and frightening. My present is messed up and only not as frightening yet but, soon will be. And in the past I can see a significant portion that was messed up. I'm not being facetious. I feel dire and foresee my future in dire straits even if I do make some serious changes now.

Sorry for being so negative.

Originally Posted by leejosepho

Maybe because we do not presently know exactly *how* we will actually survive it? Just guessing there, but I share your struggle. Even at this very moment I wonder a bit about how well I will do for the remainder of this particular day, but past experience suggests I will either have what I need or find something helpful along the way.

This exactly. The past may have been hard but we know we made it through, that makes it so much more palatable to 'frame' in our minds eye.

Right now is a different matter, how things will pan out is uncertain, and for many of us uncertainty is anxiety making.

I think it's why nostalgia is so comforting, it's safe, the outcomes are known.

[MtnTime2896]

Inside the storm, that's all your mind can manage to see. It reverts back to past survival of different storms, looking for similarities and differences to survive the current one.

Personally, what I'm going through now sucks. I've been through worse, though. Much worse. Came back from something I thought would kill me; it was the worst pain I've ever felt, even to this day. I still feel it. So, in my mind, "I lived through that, I can live through anything."

You might look back on this moment later on, and think the exact same thing. Only time will tell.

[DechanDawa]

I think maybe I am in the worst period of my life. However, having survived until now I am with the most resources within myself, if I can only access them. So that is how I am viewing this present situation.

When memories or reminders of the past appear in my mind, they mostly make me feel kinda sad, as it feels like I'm stuck in the past and not moving on much. But I have worked on finding the good in those memories.
Instead of thinking "oh, past memories... still stuck in the past", I started thinking "oh, a good nostalgia of the past", or "lets find something good in that memory".
It helps me see the fruit in my lifetime and feel as much feelings of fulfillment as possible

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by Vibrating Obsidian

When memories or reminders of the past appear in my mind, they mostly make me feel kinda sad, as it feels like I'm stuck in the past and not moving on much. But I have worked on finding the good in those memories.
Instead of thinking "oh, past memories... still stuck in the past", I started thinking "oh, a good nostalgia of the past", or "lets find something good in that memory".
It helps me see the fruit in my lifetime and feel as much feelings of fulfillment as possible

This is such wonderful insight. I am going to apply this kind of thinking starting right now. I love this! Thank you so much.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by Só leigheas

Inside the storm, that's all your mind can manage to see. It reverts back to past survival of different storms, looking for similarities and differences to survive the current one.

Personally, what I'm going through now sucks. I've been through worse, though. Much worse. Came back from something I thought would kill me; it was the worst pain I've ever felt, even to this day. I still feel it. So, in my mind, "I lived through that, I can live through anything."

You might look back on this moment later on, and think the exact same thing. Only time will tell.

This is really true. I too am living through some really hard stuff but I am surviving which proves to me that maybe I am stronger than I think. That thought alone makes me happy. Thank you for your insight.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

I personally know this is far from the worst period in my life. In fact, objectively, this is probably one of the best in a lot of ways. Sometimes I'll see news reports, or read posts here on PC, regarding the terrible things that happen to people. And I realize how incredibly fortunate I've been by comparison. But I still get seriously disheartened realizing that my life is almost over & this is what I have to show for it.

I think at least part of the problem is that what I'm experiencing in the present is right here now. While, stuff that happened in the past, is just memories. I liken it to the difference between being in a storm versus watching one from a distance. Even if the storm one is in isn't the worst possible, it's going to seem more so than a more intense storm viewed from a distance... if that makes any sense... At least that's the way it seems to me...

You are very hard on yourself. I am sure you deserve whatever peace you have in your life, and believe me, not struggling is nicer than struggling with an uncertain future. I would trade places with you any day. Please don't be so hard on yourself.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by leejosepho

Maybe because we do not presently know exactly *how* we will actually survive it? Just guessing there, but I share your struggle. Even at this very moment I wonder a bit about how well I will do for the remainder of this particular day, but past experience suggests I will either have what I need or find something
helpful along the way.

This is so true. You have hit the nail squarely on the head~!

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by gayleggg

I personally do okay with the present. It's the future that I struggle with. I imagine that doom is coming and that I won't be able to handle
it.

But it seems like you are handling it. I know of some of your personal struggles because you have talked about them here on Psych Central, but you are always so present, and such a good listener. These are invaluable qualities so despite your problems I get a good sense of who you are, and you seem like a very solid and good person. Thank you.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by Yours_Truly

I feel no matter how I look at my future it seems messed up and frightening. My present is messed up and only not as frightening yet but, soon will be. And in the past I can see a significant portion that was messed up. I'm not being facetious. I feel dire and foresee my future in dire straits even if I do make some serious changes now.

Sorry for being so negative.

I completely understand, but we can challenge our thinking, and maybe can see we have some cognitive rigidity. My life is hard, but I also see that little windows and doors keep opening. I hope you have many little opening windows and doors in 2017, my friend.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by prefabsprout

This exactly. The past may have been hard but we know we made it through, that makes it so much more palatable to 'frame' in our minds eye.

Right now is a different matter, how things will pan out is uncertain, and for many of us uncertainty is anxiety making.

I think it's why nostalgia is so comforting, it's safe, the outcomes are known.

Yes, this exactly, too! The stories from the past already have their endings. But these future stories still have a life of their own.

I must remind myself constantly that I have been through far worse. I tell myself that no matter how the dominos have fallen I still survived.

I haven't been through anything as bad as this.

I look fondly on my past. I am jealous of the me that was.

This present is intolerable.

[Finniky]

Originally Posted by gayleggg

I personally do okay with the present. It's the future that I struggle with. I imagine that doom is coming and that I won't be able to handle it.

This is where I am. I feel like things are just going to fall apart and never get better than this.