But how can this happen to someone?
Let's concentrate on how these illnesses affect the way we value the self. Of all of the destructive patterns of behavior these illnesses cause, the way a sufferer talks to the self is the fuel that maintains their illness.
I have experienced depression from two sides. For 5 years, a series of traumatic events triggered a personal nightmare I believed would never end. One of these events came when my lover was diagnosed with depression. At this time, I too had entered into the spiral of anxiety-induced depression. Both of these experiences have given me an insight into how sufferers destroy any value of the self.
Let me give a couple of examples. With my partner, if I'd arranged an evening out with friends, she'd say:
"No, I won't come, you go without me. I never have anything interesting to say. I just bore people. They'll find me an effort to be with. I'll stay here."
If I made a mistake, I'd say to myself:
"I'm useless. I'm no good at anything. Everything I do I get wrong."
This self-deprecation then spreads into other areas of life. You begin to criticize the way you look, the decisions you make or don't make, and you focus solely on the downside of life. Each time a little bit of self-worth, a little bit of self-respect and a little bit of self-confidence are eroded. Eventually, they are lost completely. When I reached my lowest point, having lost everything and everyone I loved, I'd say to myself:
"If I died tomorrow, no one would know and no one would care."
So, what helped me to come out of the fog?
Well, the reason I thought I'd become depressed was because of a series of traumatic events occurring at the same time. I was wrong. The root cause of my depression lay in the ways I reacted to them. One of the ways I'd reacted was to blame myself for events I couldn't control. The more I blamed myself, the more I beat myself up. The more I beat myself up, the more my self-esteem decreased.
The phrases I have used to briefly illustrate self-deprecating phrases we continually use against the self are mild. I'm sure you realize that many people use much stronger phrases than I've given here. The point is that these phrases would be totally unacceptable to say to others. You wouldn't tell a person that they were boring, an effort to be with and that everyone found their company dull and it would be better for everyone else if they kept away from people.
Agreed?
Yet, if I say to people:
"Pay yourself compliments. Accentuate your good in all areas of your life. Write down your good points, your triumphs, your achievements. Remind yourself as often as possible about all the good you have done."
They look at me like I'm an alien and say they'd feel stupid. Or uncomfortable. Or even embarrassed.
Yet they don't feel any of these emotions when they talk to themselves using emotionally charged, self-deprecating phrases! And like rust upon metal, these phrases gradually erode our self-esteem and our confidence.
OK, here's the bottom-line. I'd like you to inscribe what you are about to read into your mind over and over again until it is permanently etched there:
It is NEVER acceptable to talk to myself in a way I know is inappropriate and even offensive if I spoke in the same way to others.
Time for me to sign off, but before I do, here's a phrase I say to myself every single day without fail. Please use it, it is very powerful:
"If you put yourself down, down is where you will stay."
Chris Green is the author of the new book "Conquering Stress", a special program which will show you how to conquer stressful illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic and worry permanently and without taking powerful drugs. You can learn more about this new book and purchase it at http://www.conqueringstress.com
trusted cleaning company Lake Forest ..After a stressful day as a computer programmer, Jim pulled... Read More
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their exacting demands... Read More
?And holding it way down inside you like an old... Read More
... Read More
Conceptualizing stress: Stress often has a negative connotation. Failure, illnesses,... Read More
Do you attack problems and solve them or do you... Read More
"Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn... Read More
The National Center for health statistics reported that in 1997,... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
Why is it that some people become totally stressed when... Read More
Elizabeth, 32, cried during anger management class as she told... Read More
The future is nothing but a fantasy or a daydream,... Read More
What part of no don't you understand? - Bumper stickerThe... Read More
No need to go spend money at a spa! There... Read More
Why Stress Management programmes don't work?It seems that every week... Read More
Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More
There is one sure fire medicine that cures all difficulty... Read More
1. Acknowledge that requesting support, guidance and partnership is not... Read More
I recently received this e-mail message about stress management (author... Read More
It's summertime and chances are you can remember a summer... Read More
Do you get frustrated with your spouse, your kids, your... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
ExcusesWe all have them. It amazes me how creative I... Read More
One question that is not asked enough by people under... Read More
Stress is an interpretation of an event or circumstance which... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
Stress is often seen as being unhealthy, but for some... Read More
"Smash!" It was a sunny autumn Saturday. My cousins and... Read More
In the body, the stress response is mediated by the... Read More
Have you ever considered sewing a handbag as an act... Read More
The future is nothing but a fantasy or a daydream,... Read More
Today's workplace produces plenty of stress. Life's little hassles mount... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
Work stress has become a major problem today. The nature... Read More
Governements and businesses have regularly highlighted the costs of stress... Read More
I have yet to see a scientist talk about the... Read More
When was the last time that you truly took a... Read More
Seems like more and more they are all around us.... Read More
It is very true that, unfortunately, many people look to... Read More
Amazing thing, overwhelm!You don't usually see it coming. It just... Read More
Learn to have healthy relationships:This subject could fill an entire... Read More
I came out of a nightmare 5-year period of anxiety... Read More
There is one sure fire medicine that cures all difficulty... Read More
Why are you so busy? Do you really have too... Read More
We so often take the feelings of happiness and saddness... Read More
We all know what it feels like to have our... Read More
Training Your Mind For Better Business and LeisureModern life moves... Read More
Most of us are trying to balance work, home, and... Read More
Have you ever said the words, "This job/my life is... Read More
Recently the well known American news anchor Peter Jennings died... Read More
Stress Management |