Hi ladies! I'm a long-time lurker and I really enjoy the ideas on this sub. Implementing these values has proven extremely beneficial to my everyday life and my relationship. Also this may be a wall of text so sorry in advance! Also it's relatively late at night where I am right now so I apologize for ranting/grammatical errors.
Anyways, lately I've been dealing with some really crazy insecurity that has been affecting my day-to-day life. Usually outwardly I appear happy and secure, and I am always kind and friendly to whoever I speak to. I am definitely not taking this problem out on my peers/strangers. I haven't really discussed this with anyone because I mostly like to keep my personal issues to myself. I am really trying to keep this problem out of my relationship but it is hard as it is mostly what I'm insecure about.
I suppose I'm having extreme feelings of inadequacy in my relationship. Often I feel very, very unattractive/undesirable and hard to love, which makes me feel very poorly about myself. Basically I feel worthless. I'm aware that insecurity is an unattractive quality and I try to keep myself happy in order to keep my mind off of it.
I make sure I am always attractive for my SO, I use skin care products, makeup, my hair is always done or at least is tidy, I keep fit, I dress feminine and make sure my poise is never/rarely broken. I let my SO lead at all times which I am perfectly fine with and enjoy and we have lots of fun together, our relationship is quite RP, so I'm not entirely sure why I am feeling like this. I feel like everything I do is not enough. My SO appreciates me and that should be enough reassurance, however I can't help but constantly be questioning myself and if I'm actually of value. Some days (like today) it gets so detrimental I just want to sit at home and curl up into a little blanket-cocoon of sadness. I'm trying to appear like everything is peachy-keen but inside it feels like everything is going to shambles.
Does anyone else experience this? I'm trying to "fake it til' you make it"... but I find it's difficult when I'm really feeling crappy. I am really trying to not hamster/let this eat away at me and hurt my relationship. I hope this all makes sense!
I appreciate and welcome any advice! Thank you so much (-:
[deleted] 10y ago
you're not alone, i feel the same way. but these comments are helping! thanks for posting :)
vguertin88 10y ago
The book The Surrendered Wife says that if you are feeling like you need to lash out at your husband to stop and examine how much time you've been spending in yourself. Typically when we feel exhausted or at the end of our rope, it's because we haven't been spending enough time on ourselves.
Now I know you haven't said you've been lashing out at your SO but I think feeling sad or insecure about yourself can also speak to a lack of me time too. Go do something nice for yourself, a manicure, get a new dress or whatever it is. Read a book, take a walk, order take out instead of making dinner. It sounds like you haven't been appreciating you lately. You deserve it!
vanaxach 10y ago
I've heard lots of things about The Surrendered Wife and it sounds like a really good, informative read. Thank you for the advice!
vguertin88 10y ago
Its a must read in my opinion and many other ladies on here! But I do think if you recharge you batteries a little you'll feel better. Best of luck!
vanaxach 10y ago
Thanks so much, I'm going to keep a lookout for it!
orientallily 10y ago
I understand where you are coming from. I second some of the other rpw here who said they write down their thoughts in a journal. It definitely helps in my case as well. I keep a private wordpress blog where I write down my thoughts when I feel insecure, crazy, when my hamster is spinning etc... I write down how I feel, why I feel that way, what is more rational for me to do, and that really helps clear my head and change my mindset when I'm stuck in a terrible place. I also write down when I make mistakes with regards to my relationship with my SO to avoid them in the future. Maybe you can try it out and see if it helps? I find it lonely sometimes since I do not want to share most relationship questions with friends/family, and I don't want to bother my SO when I know I'm just irrationally insecure. Writing seems to be a healthy outlet.
vanaxach 10y ago
Yes a lot of ladies are recommending that. I think writing it down would be a great way to get my head clear and help me sort out my feelings. A blog sounds wonderful, but I have an empty journal I don't really use unless I'm making lists... I'll give it a shot and see if it helps! Thanks so much for the reply :)
windlabyrinth 10y ago
The good news is this is your battle and you can kick ass.
Some things I did: You have to challenge your brain. Your brain isn't bad but sometimes it's an asshole. I weigh 115 pounds but, when I look in the mirror I see a baby orca whale. I know logically i can't be a baby whale, mostly because I can't swim.
I have compassion for everyone else so why not myself? Can I be the only person in the world who is a worthless mistake? No that's just stupid so shut up brain, you're not you when you're hungry.
Go outside. Go for a small walk, soak up some sun. The sun gives you those good vibe vitamins.
I picked up reading again. I also joined a book club. Whatever you enjoy find it and then find people to do it with.
Also, I recommend a journal. Your deepest darkest insecurities need a place to go but out for the world isn't the right place. So I write them. They have their own space in a deceptively bright yellow notebook that nobody will ever read. It helps me a lot to give them a voice, move them from my brain into a safe space.
vanaxach 10y ago
This made me laugh.
I think I need to have more compassion for myself, it feels like I'm bullying myself sometimes.
I have been thinking about joining a book club. I will just have to find one in my city! I have a journal but I never really use it. Maybe I should start! Thank you for the advice (:
IceCreamnCakenCake 10y ago
I struggle with this all the time! I basically lurk around here hoping to figure out what I need to be doing differently. Thank you for posting this! :) I'll look to others to offer the advice but I wanted to say that I know EXACTLY how you feel and you're not alone!
vanaxach 10y ago
Thank you for replying! I totally get what you mean. I love lurking around and finding little tricks and tips on how to improve!! It's good to know I'm not the only one (:
IceCreamnCakenCake 10y ago
I struggle with perfectionism, though, so that may be a part of things. Sometimes I take the advice on here and TRP past the point of it being healthy for me (I didn't realize until VERY recently, I was allowed to offer other suggestions or say "later, babes" when the SO wanted to be intimate past the point of physical comfort)....I just sucked it up and pretended not to be miserable/in pain, which isn't the best for maintaining a great partnership, either... Eventually he noticed and was very confused/upset that I hadn't just TOLD him what was going on.
itsnadya101 10y ago
Well, what are you doing to make yourself happy? Have any hobbies or interests? Maybe, spend more time on them.
Just because you're RP doesn't mean you have to put on a facade of perfection 24/7.
vanaxach 10y ago
I have never really thought of this. Thank you for bringing that to light. I do feel like I need to be perfect for my SO. I have been straying from my hobbies during this time so I will definitely be focusing on them more. Thank you so much!
itsnadya101 10y ago
Yeah anytime!
I don't think you need to be perfect for your SO. I mean you should do everything you can that is possible and I'm glad you want to please him but even in a relationship you need to find and do things that make YOU happy.
Like for ex, I play soccer for fun and I'm probably not going to give it up if I had an SO but I would find time to make for my SO and do other things to satisfy him.
Never lose sight of who you are whether you're in a relationship or not.
vanaxach 10y ago
Those are some very good points. (:
[deleted] 10y ago
Hey, he's with you. That means you're awesome! Coming from how you've described yourself, that means you bring happiness and joy to him, and that he loves and respects you. It sounds like you may be dealing with depression, (not a doctor) but aside from going to a counselor, you can also look at your diet, vitamins, and exercise as a partial help.
Its not your job to be stoic and keep things to yourself. You're a woman, we get emotional, its totally OK. Just tell him how you feel and I'm sure he'll understand and make you feel better. Just remember that he chose to be with YOU. That means you lighten his day and make him happy, if you were worthless, he wouldn't choose to spend his time with you. I'm sure you'll be fine and you should remember above all you are not worthless.
I deal with depression myself, I'm not sure if that is what you have but it could be. I know those feelings and have dealt with them recently. Sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough for my boyfriend and I finally told him about a week ago. He just gave me a big hug and tucked me into my bed and told me how I'm not worthless and it really made me feel better about myself. While being stoic and self helping is a good trait, its hard to stay on an even keel all the time, and having a guy who cares about how you feel is an opportunity to get things off your chest that are weighing only you.
vanaxach 10y ago
Thank you for this. I try to hide my emotional self from my SO because I don't want to seem like I get upset over everything and I don't want him to feel like it's his fault, because it's not. I think I need to work on opening up to him about this. I don't think it's necessarily depression, some users have suggested that depression may be it but I think it might be more anxiety than anything. I find I am often nervous/worried about how things are in the relationship.
gabilromariz 10y ago
I've had the same problem and am working to get over it. One thing you need to understand is if you're doing a ton of stuff and feel like it's never enough, you're not doing the right things for you, and that's ok.
It looks like you're spreading yourself too thin! How is school, work, your friends, etc? Maybe you should cut back on the stuff that feels draining to you and start taking better care of yourself. It feels a bit selfish at times but it improves my mood greatly, like getting absorbed in a hobby you like or taking a really long bath or walk or whatever suits you
vanaxach 10y ago
I definitely need to work on myself some more and focus less on the emotionally draining stuff. Thank you so much for the reply. (-:
gabilromariz 10y ago
Feel free to ask me anything you need. I've had to quit one of my "internships" and have taken up meditation and needlework as my way to recover from all this draining. My bf is also helping out a lot by going out together more often so I can also help him relax from his stressful schoolwork.
We've also had a ton of fun watching massage tutorials on Youtube and practicing in turns. It's relaxing, fun and so on :)
vanaxach 10y ago
That sounds wonderful! (:
gabilromariz 10y ago
Let me know if you need more ideas or anything else
vanaxach 10y ago
Definitely. Thanks again!
t0k1 10y ago
I think one of the keywords of your post is "lately."
Has something happened, you observed something, or has something been said/done to you that makes you feel somehow inadequate? What's the trigger? Is this the first time you have felt this way, or do these phases of crappy feelings happen often? Try to identify possible catalysts for yourself.
"I feel like everything I do is not enough." - Enough to maintain your happiness, or your SO's?
Although you seem to take care of yourself and are self-aware (e.g. the feeling that something is off) and although part of this could be symptoms of depression/anxiety, I think part of your feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy can be resolved with more communication and contact with your SO &/or friends and family.
Branching out with new hobbies, learning something new, and being more physically active are good places to start. Exercising when you start to feel the mehs and blahs really helps me. Volunteering your time at a shelter or a soup kitchen helps too. Especially when you help homeless people...it makes me more grateful for what I have and appreciate that the things I think are BIG F-ing PROBLEMS are not as big and bad as I think they are. (Plus, exercise and helping people out will jack up your feel-good endorphins.)
I think you made a good positive step in reaching out to others on a public forum, you're not alone in how you feel.
vanaxach 10y ago
I'm not entirely sure. I feel like it just kind of hit me. I feel like I don't do enough to maintain my SO's happiness, and in turn that makes me unhappy because I love making him happy. This is the first time it's felt this severe. Sometimes it will come and go but I've been feeling like this for a while now. I have dealt with anxiety before so this may be likely. I really want to discuss this with my SO but I'm not entirely sure how to go about it without completely falling apart. Taking up a new hobby sounds like a great idea! I volunteered for an art camp with children under 7 last month and that really helped with my mood because they're little balls of energy! Exercising when I'm down is also a good one. Thank you so much for the reply, I really appreciate it (:
vintagegirlgame 10y ago
Do you think you might be struggling with depression? Are you usually an optimistic person or a pessimistic person? Are these feelings of inadequacy only in your relationship w your SO or does it bleed into relationships with friends, family, at work?
How is your diet? Do you eat healthy? My Dr.Mom would suggest taking lots of Vitamin D3 to boost immunity and mood (50,000 IUs once a week, 15,000 IUs daily).
vanaxach 10y ago
I'm usually pretty optimistic. Recently I have just dropped a toxic friend group. yay!
My diet is pretty good I would say. On the off-day I'll snack out hard (a habit I'm trying to break) but other than that it's ok. I drink lots of water as well. I'm not entirely sure if it would be depression. I don't feel sad in any other aspects of my life, as the inadequacy is only with my SO.
Thank you for the Dr. Mom suggestion!! I will look into that. (:
rpnub 10y ago
I agree this sounds like depression. As others have asked, it seems like OP does stuff for others, but doesn't seem to do stuff for herself which can lead to an empty feeling. I wonder if she is doing anything to "fill her own cup" per say? What makes her happy and feel good?
As far as the Vitamin D3 suggestion, I would be careful with this. The RDA/RDI for most people for Vitamin D is 600 IU. The RDA/RDI Upper Limit for D3 is 1,000 to 3,000. I recently had blood work done and it was discovered I am a little below the normal range for Vitamin D3. My doctor instructed me a few days ago during my visit with her that I should take a Vitamin D3 supplement at a dosage of 2,000 IU. I go back in three months to have blood work done again to test my Vitamin D3 levels.
High doses of Vitamin D3 should only be taken under a doctor's supervision and blood work performed to monitor levels. Vitamin D toxicity could lead to a range of issues with appetite, vomiting, and and kidney problems.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-d-toxicity/faq-20058108
vanaxach 10y ago
Thanks for the link!
I love making others feel good! I love exercising, I also love making crafts and other forms of artwork. And baking! However this feels like it doesn't really "fill my cup". It doesn't really feel fulfilling.
I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but my appetite has taken a blow. Some days I'm not hungry at all and barely eat. I know this isn't good and I should be eating normally, but some days I'm just straight up not hungry.
edit: I said my diet was good in a previous comment. It usually is but right now my appetite is meh.
TempestTcup 10y ago
I agree with taking D3 in a lower dose, and maybe some Omega-3 also. I used to have a lot of angst until I got my healthy fats in order. I quit all vegetable oils except olive oil and replaced most of my carbs with good saturated fats like Kerrygold butter and cold pressed coconut oil. It made a world of difference in my moods and my outlook on life. Look into the Paleo Diet for a guideline although I don't strictly follow it.
Maybe this will help if all you are experiencing is a form of angst.
vanaxach 10y ago
I don't quite think it is angst. I have been thinking about cutting out simple carbs and most unhealthy fats. I will definitely start taking more vitamin D3 and omega-3. My vitamins could have a lot to do with how I'm feeling. My step-dad is Paleo but he doesn't recommend it for me. I was also thinking about a keto diet but I asked my SO about it and he doesn't really like the idea. Thanks! (:
TempestTcup 10y ago
A modified Paleo is fine; it's basically just cutting all processed foods out of your diet. I'm into gut flora so I still eat starches like rice etc. I don't recommend keto or intermittent fasting as a woman. It just doesn't work very well for us usually
vanaxach 10y ago
Hmm. Modified Paleo sounds very interesting- I'll do my research a bit more on it. Thanks for the tips. (:
TheLadyPainter 10y ago
1) He's with you because he chooses to be. It's probably because you're valuable to him and bring joy to his life, which is something to feel wonderful about.
2) I noticed that when talking about yourself, you describe a lot of things you do physically/socially. What else do you do? Do you have a hobby? Do you read/write? Draw? Play an instrument? Cook creatively? Dance? Are you into fitness? If you do any of these things, take pride in it. If you don't have a hobby, I'd suggest getting in to something. If it's something you think your SO would be proud of you for doing, all the better. :)
vanaxach 10y ago
Thank you for the advice. That is something to feel wonderful about, you're right! One of my struggles is that I'm questioning whether or not that's actually true. (yikes) I love to read/draw/paint, and I recently just started honing my baking and cooking skills. It makes him happy when I bake/make crafts for him so I think I will be doing that much more. (-:
TheLadyPainter 10y ago
By doubting that, you're doubting his choice. Let his confidence support you for now, but definitely work on building your own.
Take one of your hobbies and push it to an extreme - see if you can start making money or affecting a community. I'm pursuing painting as a career, and not only does it fill me with pride to develop my talent, my SO loves to brag about it. :) Maybe you can do something similar, like working for an artisan patisserie, or taking cooking classes, or pushing your art skills/opening an Etsy store. Just go for it!
vanaxach 10y ago
Wow. I never considered that at all. Thank you!
I'm happy to hear that you're pursuing a career in something you love! It's very inspiring and I wish you all the best. Thank you for the advice. I'll amp up my hobbies!