Here is a great comment regarding my post about relationship confidence- it’s so inspiring, I thought it would be a great post that people could read when they wake up tomorrow morning!
Hi Julie,
I know exactly what you’re talking about!
And I also knew, that living in a new city, I was never going to get out of the depression I’m still recovering from if I didn’t start developing relationships with people here.
I made a commitment that this semester I’d make a concerted effort. So I’ve been forcing myself to act as if people have every reason in the world to want to hang out with me, work with me, etc., and am getting very positive responses. I’ve even started joining meetup groups and getting together with people I don’t know at all. I think I might finally be getting close to the point in recovery where I can also start to reach for relationships with specific people I think highly of (in the “better than me” category), and might want to work with, etc. It’s a process…
Man, nothing has taught me how to “fake it til you make it” like this illness… Sometimes I wish I could put on my resume: SURVIVED MANIC DEPRESSION! That ought to get an awful lot of points for strength of character! Phew.
Michele
Thanks for sharing that, my mother suffers from Bipolar depression. It’s comforting to know she’s not alone and the battle can be won.