Hi
Where can I stop being so hard on myself?
I've lived with depressive episodes for much of my life. There were times when how I treated myself during and after an episode was probably harsher than the episode itself. The self-hatred, shame, and even suicidal thoughts became part of the suffering.
As I changed my relationship with alcohol, I began changing my relationship with myself. I started questioning the stories I told about my experiences. Little by little, kindness began showing up where judgment once lived.
I still experience depression, but I'm learning to sit beside those difficult moments instead of fighting them. To listen, to feel, and to give myself some grace. And I've noticed my episodes have become gentler and shorter.