What does it feel like to like yourself?

[bellerose]

Have you ever liked yourself? I'm one of those people that hasn't really ever felt this feeling. My husband isn't, so I asked him. He had a sweet response, but that's coming from someone without depression.

Anybody here experience the feeling of liking who they are?

[Evergreenforst4]

Hi,

I think determining whether you like who you are also means you first have to find out who you are.

The author John Steinbeck understanding eachother almost always leads to love but I also think it can apply to yourself as well.

Knowing yourself is very important, even military leaders like Sun Tzu believed this.

If you want to know more about yourself you can try asking people what they think of you and take personality tests.

Ask your husband what he likes about you. No matter who you are there is almost always something good you can say about yourself, find the good things about yourself and understand your flaws and weaknesses and learn to strengthen them or work around them.

[cherryapplez2020]

It’s nice remember it does get better

[Bbqdad]

I am bipolar 1. When I am depressed I have no life or energy and no interests. I see no hope. When I am manic I am on top of the world. I am a conqueror. Everybody likes me. Under meds and stable I consider that I am a good father and a kind hearted person that cares for others. I like myself.

[sober4life]

I like myself more than I used to.  I guess I got sober and stayed sober by first hating myself and moving as far from being that person as I possibly could.  I do hate who I used to be and always will.  That's what keeps me sober.

[JD4010]

On 9/22/2021 at 7:41 PM, sober4life said:

I like myself more than I used to.  I guess I got sober and stayed sober by first hating myself and moving as far from being that person as I possibly could.  I do hate who I used to be and always will.  That's what keeps me sober.

You helped at least one other person become sober as well (me). I hated myself then and I must admit I still do. I consider myself to be a net drain on the universe. A load, in 1970s terminology.

My sole reason for existence right now is to clean out the cat litter boxes.

 

[csam]

I think there can often be changes of opinion in oneself. I've always liked certain aspects of myself, but hated other parts and behaviors. So from a depressive point of view (as opposed to that of someone who hasn't hated themselves), it involves bearing in mind your positive aspects, and reminding yourself that you are worthy of respect from yourself and others during times you may hate yourself. For depressives it's an ongoing effort to catch yourself in the negative times and shift your thinking. It pays off eventually.

[crewneck]

I'm not sure, sometimes I like myself. I like myself a lot better than the old version of me. I think from all the hurt and trauma I have experience in my life, it has made me a better person. But, also from that trauma I feel more damaged and don't know how to overcome it so I hate that about myself. I've become stagnant and I've been having a hard time getting myself out from that. That part I really hate. 

[Kyle]

On 9/18/2021 at 6:57 PM, bellerose said:

Have you ever liked yourself? I'm one of those people that hasn't really ever felt this feeling. My husband isn't, so I asked him. He had a sweet response, but that's coming from someone without depression.

Anybody here experience the feeling of liking who they are?

I liked myself when I was younger and that was despite some heavy bullying. I felt like I liked myself up until the past 10 years. Now I struggle with it and have a lot of ups and downs.

I guess when I liked myself I felt more care-free and secure and stable with my life in general. I would have this feeling like I could do anything I wanted and at the same time I was content with what I was doing and how my life was going. I wasn't wondering if all the bad or less than ideal things in my life were because I somehow wasn't adequate enough which is what I do a lot of these days.

Often times its a total mystery to me why I go through periods of liking myself more, but in a broad sense there's a feeling that things are going my way for a period of time and it reinforces my self esteem. I hope that wasn't too vague to be helpful.

[sober4life]

On 9/24/2021 at 5:48 PM, JD4010 said:

You helped at least one other person become sober as well (me). I hated myself then and I must admit I still do. I consider myself to be a net drain on the universe. A load, in 1970s terminology.

My sole reason for existence right now is to clean out the cat litter boxes.

 

I'm back to the point where I'm hating myself again as well.  For a long time I was a strong loner.  You have to be to explain to yourself why nobody wants any part of being a part of your life but eventually I just figured out I'm a freak.  I'm the runt of the litter so to speak.  If I was a part of any other animal species the rest of them would have killed me by now.

[lindahurt]

Well, most of the time it feels ok or great to be me.  Then there are times when I don't like me because I fell to achieve some goals for that day due to lack of motivation, just feeling low in spirit, impulsive decisions to name a few.  

I realize I'm going to have good days and low ones, so I've learned to accept my life for what for what it is each day.  This mind set helps me to continue to appreciate myself and see my self-worth.  Regardless of how awful I feel I will still love myself because its the disease that causing me to feel the way I do.  With medication treatment and therapy, most of my days are fairly good or ok.

I travel and enjoy the outdoors as much as I can.  I go to the gym, the park, walk around the neighborhood, ride my bike, do a little shopping and volunteering on good days, and every now and then enjoy the company of three or four family members and friends I trust and accepts me as I am.  I'm determined to have the best life I can regardless of the mental illnesses I suffer with.  I try to be as positive and motivated as I can.  I deal with the really bad down in the valley days, while telling myself I'll eventually feel better.  Everyday will not be like this.  

That's what its like to like myself.  So, I think its great to be me.

[Evergreenforst4]

3 hours ago, lindahurt said:

Well, most of the time it feels ok or great to be me.  Then there are times when I don't like me because I fell to achieve some goals for that day due to lack of motivation, just feeling low in spirit, impulsive decisions to name a few.  

I realize I'm going to have good days and low ones, so I've learned to accept my life for what for what it is each day.  This mind set helps me to continue to appreciate myself and see my self-worth.  Regardless of how awful I feel I will still love myself because its the disease that causing me to feel the way I do.  With medication treatment and therapy, most of my days are fairly good or ok.

I travel and enjoy the outdoors as much as I can.  I go to the gym, the park, walk around the neighborhood, ride my bike, do a little shopping and volunteering on good days, and every now and then enjoy the company of three or four family members and friends I trust and accepts me as I am.  I'm determined to have the best life I can regardless of the mental illnesses I suffer with.  I try to be as positive and motivated as I can.  I deal with the really bad down in the valley days, while telling myself I'll eventually feel better.  Everyday will not be like this.  

That's what its like to like myself.  So, I think its great to be me.

Lindahurt I am glad you like being yourself you sound like a pretty amazing person. You have a great perspective that allows you to see beyond the bad days.

 

[lindahurt]

11 hours ago, Evergreenforst4 said:

Lindahurt I am glad you like being yourself you sound like a pretty amazing person. You have a great perspective that allows you to see beyond the bad days.

 

Hello Evergreenforst4,

Thank you.   It has been years of counseling and self-work during some of the most challenging dark days of my life to get to place.  It will be whatever I choose to make of it.   I refuse to let the battles of life rob me of a fruitful and rewarding existence. 

[June322]

On 9/18/2021 at 6:57 PM, bellerose said:

Have you ever liked yourself? I'm one of those people that hasn't really ever felt this feeling. My husband isn't, so I asked him. He had a sweet response, but that's coming from someone without depression.

Anybody here experience the feeling of liking who they are?

What was your husbands response ? 
 

this is a great question.  I often wonder what it feels like to live a life without mental illness. Anxiety and Depression are the two that seem to plague most people these days so I’m always surprised when I hear someone say they have experienced neither. It makes Me wonder what it feels like to walk around feeling sure of one self and not be riddle with anxiety and running thoughts.

 

I sadly don’t like myself and I feel like my hatred for myself gets deeper each year. I’m hoping once I hit 30 things will change since people say things change when you hit a new milestone in age lol I’m crossing my fingers for that 

[Evergreenforst4]

1 hour ago, June322 said:

What was your husbands response ? 
 

this is a great question.  I often wonder what it feels like to live a life without mental illness. Anxiety and Depression are the two that seem to plague most people these days so I’m always surprised when I hear someone say they have experienced neither. It makes Me wonder what it feels like to walk around feeling sure of one self and not be riddle with anxiety and running thoughts.

 

I sadly don’t like myself and I feel like my hatred for myself gets deeper each year. I’m hoping once I hit 30 things will change since people say things change when you hit a new milestone in age lol I’m crossing my fingers for that 

I used to have really bad depression but it went away after a lot of work and education.

I would say that life without depression is like taking a walk in autumn and watching the beautiful colors of the leaves and having a successful life like being a doctor and being in control of your life. It is like when you have challenges you can make plans and overcome things.

For me depression is like an old dusty house with a bunch of broken portraits. It is like a kid who wants to see their dad but he is too busy at work or left him before he was born. I never saw depression as some enemy, it is kind like a ghost in your life that you have to learn to understand so it can move on.

It is another color of a canvas, perhaps people who never have understood depression are quite happy go lucky fortunate people. Because happiness does not come easy to depressed but perhaps they appreciate it more. I always found people who have depression to be deep and complex. It is like the wind you don't always know where it goes

[Camellia]

I dont know how it feels to like ourselves. I really dont know. I confused a lot. I dont know how to describe it here.

[nojoy]

Back in the 70s, there was a song that told of a woman who had been to all these places, done all these things, but she had never been to me (meaning herself).  I have never been to me. I have always played the parts that other people wanted.

I am now in a place that the therapist calls this is what normal is like for people. You see the problem, you find an acceptable solution for the problem & you move on to the next thing.  G-d I love this woman.  She has helped me to relax, stop the overthinking & let other people solve their own problems, that's it okay to say no, its ok to stand up for myself & its ok to help when asked. 

I'm not ever going to be free of depression/anxiety.  I will often question myself. Sometimes the dark hole may reappear but I have the confidence & tools to keep away from the edge.  I will be on meds for the rest of my life. 

[monicott17]

One thing I excel at is self-loathing. My self esteem has always been low and these days it is non-exsistent.

[sober4life]

I don't hate myself but I never think I've done enough and never think I've done a good enough job.  People at best have always seen me as a project.  I can make you better they think.  Nobody has ever thought I was good enough as is in my life and nobody has ever smiled when they saw me.  There's always a look of disgust on their face when I come around so surprisingly it's hard to like myself when I'm treated like that.

[bellerose]

Thanks for replying everyone. These past few months have been kinda wild. Through therapy, some soul searching, and acceptance, I think I felt it a couple times and it was really pleasant. It felt like, "If I had to be the person I am now for the rest of my life, I would be content".

Then I had to abruptly come off my prozac (40mg) due to pharmacy issues. For almost a week I felt very very close to how I did when I was on it. I ended up getting my prescription filled but I decided to try stopping it altogether. It's been three weeks and I'm starting to revert.

I'm feeling really frustrated whenever I think about myself. I feel fully detached to those brief moments of being content. Yesterday and today are just anger. What was once doable activities is now just biting off more than I can chew. Starting a new job soon, school, creative projects with friends and personal passions. Can't get any homework done. Going to procrastinate project deadlines. Haven't had energy to work on passions the past couple weeks so how will I now?

Feeling familiar here, coming back with a lesson learned. Normality isn't achievable on my terms.

[ChocolateVanilla]

For a long time I didn't like myself. I hated myself. But after reading The Bible and listening to Christian music, I started to like myself more. I went many years without liking myself though.