["Tilly may"]

I have been going to the T for a year. I still have had severe depression and anxiety, esp anxiety for 18 mons now since I made a very bad choice. My T told me that the depression was stemming from anger. That i was repressing anger. We talked about possible anger that i might be repressing. The only anger I have is at myself for making such a bad decision 18 mons ago. She said something that made a difference. She said " forgive yourself".

So I went home and lie in the tub and talked to myself about forgiveness. I told myself that its ok, that im not mad at myself anymore. I tried hard to believe it. I went in my studio and did some art just some angry lines and scrawls on paper. I didnt cry. Somehow I feel better by forgiving myself. Is this possible? Such an easy fix? I have been severely anxiety ridden for mons and now I have been 4 days without anxiety. I hope this feeling lasts and I hope that someone else can have resolution by forgiveness.

[gayleggg]

Yes, I believe it is possible. Forgiving ourselves opens up room to let go of anger whether for ourselves or others. I was once told that depression is anger turned inward. As a very depressed bipolar person, I don't believe that is true for all cases of depression, but for others I believe that is true. Maybe it will work for you. Good luck.

[winter4me]

Thank you. I have never tried this but...I think I might make a list of the things that I really have not forgiven myself for and try----I have made fitful starts on a few things---and, I too made a very bad a decision, a couple of years ago now...it wasn't my first bad decision but it went beyond some boundary I could not see and don't understand...and the fall out was all bad for me...I have accumulated a handful of these things over the years and generally avoid thinking of them in any depth...run run run....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm