“I feel like I never get things right. I’ll do my best but I’m always left with the feeling that I did something wrong or that I should have kept quiet or that people don’t like me. It’s always there. I can go for a walk and that’s the thing that swirls around the whole time. I can go to a social situation and see how happy other people seem to be and, again, those thoughts are there. I can be at a meeting at work and the thoughts pop up again. The idea that other people are better than me. The idea that everyone else knows how to ‘win’ at life and I don’t. I do my best to disguise this and it sometimes works but it’s not working for me. I feel sad and anxious and that I can’t tell anyone about how I feel because they would really think I’m just a loser.”
If the above resonates with you, then I am really sorry to hear this. It sounds very painful and lonely to live this way. It can lead to symptoms and feelings associated with depression and anxiety and create a vicious cycle which seems impossible to break. It would be understandable that you would not want to talk about this with other people. Imagine that you did talk to others about these thoughts and feelings. Imagine how you would feel to discover that others sometimes feel like this too. Imagine that you could find ways to challenge some of your thoughts and behaviours and feel more accepting and at ease with yourself.
For those who do not want to talk to family and friends about how they feel, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be helpful to understand what is maintaining your emotional states by developing a clear understanding of the problems you are facing and increasing your self-awareness. This enables you to consider the choices you are making and the changes you could make to live a more fulfilled life. If this sounds like something you would like to do, please get in touch. Learn how to enjoy your walks, social gatherings and meetings. Learn to value yourself.