I am having a problem not getting depressed about my situation. My ex-boyfriend keeps emailing me; he has a new girlfriend and both of them are becoming more and more successful artists, they keep having shows together. He tells me about going to the openings and how much they are selling and the articles in magazines about them and so on. I can't even go out of the house, I don't see my friends, and I have to spend a couple of hours each day practising exposure, then there's reading books, therapy and meditation etc ... I feel like a complete loser. My ex-boyfriend knows my situation and he even tries to be gentle on me, saying, 'I don't mean to make you jealous but ...' and 'Tell me if you don't want me to talk about this ...' - But he used to be depressed and now he's successful I don't want to ruin his happiness, and I don't want him to know how miserable I am. Plus, his girlfriend absolutely hates me, and puts me down whenever she can. The whole situation is so painful. I feel like such a comparative failure. And when I get better and resume my own life, since my ex-boyfriend is friends with all my friends, there'll be no escape.
Does anyone have any tips about how to not feel like a failure when ... you know, when you're sick?