How to be happy...

[Carly011]

Has anyone successfully overcome depression? Or at least raise their self-esteem and be happy? I hate myself so much. I dont know why. I look in the mirror and i want to cry. All i can see is imperfection and grossness. All i see is some fat, ugly, nasty, failure mistake.

Its like i want to be happy...but im afraid. I dont know what i am afraid of though...maybe im afraid no one will care anymore? I have been depressed for so long(at least 8 years, maybe more) without treatment that i dont remember how to be happy....im terrified of being happy. It seems like an overwhelming amount of work and i am not sure i can do it....i dont want to fail.

It's like i dont want to cut...i want to stop...but then again i dont want to. I dont want to because im scared....how am i going to deal, what am i going to be without cutting....how am i going to stop hurting inside?

ughhh this is all to hard. I hate life. Why am i even here? What is the purpose of living a life like this....

[xXoblivionXx]

:/

I'm stuck in the same hole. I guess you have to just try to find pleasure in the smallest things. You know, that little thing that makes you smile. Then build your way up from that. I know it's way harder than just "being happy" and "wanting to be happy".

Just remember that you CAN do this Carly :D

[Ambrosia]

This thread will have a lot better chance in the Depression section. Self Harm:arrow:Depression :)

------------------------------------
I have raised my self esteem considerably over the past year or two, but I have yet to overcome that depressive state my mind still seems to want to stick to. I can, though, say that I am happy more often than I used to be.

I can help you, hopefully, to raise your self view.

First start by switching how you talk to yourself. Negative things that you say to yourself will only worsen your self view. Switch them to positive ones! I know it's not easy to switch self talk, but you can work on it. Try to make a list of some of the negative things you tell yourself. Wrist down things like "I'm stupid", "I'm a failure", "I'm ugly". Start switching them around. Say, "I'm smart", "I'm successful", "I don't look that bad". Start repeating them to yourself over and over again. Say it in the mirror, say it in the shower, say if like a prayer before bed. I write down motivational things and positive statements and put them on my mirrors, walls, in my car, and when I'm at work I put them up around where I am usually.
Make a list of things you have done well in your life, a list of accomplishments. Stuff like, finished a (big number) page book, got a job, learned to text :P.

If you start doing things, like accomplishing a little something every day, you'll start to feel a sense of accomplishment. Begin getting something new done every day, and telling yourself that you are proud that you got it done. Something like cleaning your closet, doing laundry, cleaning the family car, cook yourself a healthy meal. If you get motivated, you get a little bit happier with yourself!

You can volunteer for something. If you do something nice for someone you are almost guaranteed a warm, happy feeling to wash over you. When you help others, you help yourself!

Start spending time with old friends, work out a little bit, anything that might make you feel accomplished.

Anything will work. If you feel good about yourself, everything is great. Good luck!!

[leafgreenangel]

i'm a very happy person... i want to start my post like this in case i seem a little ditzy and cliche. i was depressed for a couple months when i had some home life problems. i also have naturally low self esteem. when i entered high school i told myself everything would change. (this is where it may sound stupid) i started really looking in the mirror and found one quality that was really good about me... my eyes... i really like my eyes. then later i found something else that i like. next is my weight, so i started to diet a little (no progress, but still happy). the road to happiness to me is to find something you like and focus on it. and find things that you don't like and fix them. now i walk around and say i'm model, Don't tell me i'm not, because i believe i'm beautiful. you have to believe your beautiful for others to see your beauty. confidence is beautiful. PM me if you ever want to talk