Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

Emergency Happy Questions

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-06-11 2:42 PM

Depression Community

logo

Questions to challenge negativity

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-06-03 3:43 PM

Depression Community

logo

Social anxiety disorder

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-05-29 1:50 PM

Anxiety Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Loved

Browse through 411.758 posts in 47.059 threads.

160,770 Members

Please welcome our newest members: MereM, browcari, Cas151, Britanica78, m_ladyschoolme

Would appreciate some points of view please


13 years ago 0 11221 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
This is a great discussion topic Wellandhappy!
 
From my personal experience I think this is a common fear for many women in today's society.  In a society where women (and men) can be defined by their relationships it can be very frightening to not have that.  I think really examining this fear may help you come to terms with a it. Members, please share your thoughts and experiences as well.
 
Really consider the following questions and if you feel comfortable post your answers.
 
What if you really were alone for the rest of your life?
How would you find fullfilment in other ways? 
What would you do differently?
How would you give your life meaning?
Where would you find social support?
What would be bad about it?
What would be good about it?
 
 
 
 
Ashley, Health Educator
13 years ago 0 55 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0

Dear all,

 Hope you're having a good day. Is been ok for me, busy which is good, and I just talked to my mum, which makes me feel good as well.

However today I am having again my insidious, recurrent and catastrophic thought of 'I will never be in a relationship again, and I will grow old single and lonely'. I know it sounds very ridiculous, it makes me feel quite silly and ashamed to admit as I know people have more serious problems than these. But I guess that's the way depression is, a negative thoughts grows so big that it turns into this dark, wild torment that feels unstoppable and it takes over you. I have this thought almost every day, every single day, at least once, but usually many times. If I could pick one thought that keeps me the most depressed, this would be it, which is why I am reaching out to ask for some guideance, in spite the shame I feel on admitting this in 'public'. 

A little background: I have been married once and divorced after 3 years. After that I've been in several long term relationships, all with men who were not good for me (either with severe narcissistic tendencies, and the last one was a full-blown, text book narcissist). After so many dissapointments and the last fiasco which was pretty bad, I finally came to the conclusion that I had to take a look inside and work on myself as somehow I had been attracting those men. So I embarked in a journey of self knowledge, self discovery, read lots about relationship, learnt about my childhood issues and how they have affected me to my adulthood, etc.

Fast forward to today, I have been single for 2 and a half years, working on recovering of my depression, trying to put my life back together after the last failure, away from family and friends as I actually moved countries in order to be with the last man. I understand now how I was an easy prey to these men due to low self esteem issues, codependancy, intimacy issues, etc. so I have been working hard on all those areas. These days I am much more centered, I do not feel I need a man in order to survive, and I have stayed clear of relationships that do not serve me, I am surrounded with truly wonderful friends, for the most I enjoy my job, I have a good life, and little by little I think I am building my self esteem. 

However one thing I have not been able to change and is actually getting much worse, is my outlook about my future when it comes to


Reading this thread: