Back down the hole

[Grey_Sheep]

Been fighting depression and anxiety for years and really struggling right now. Weak social support network. Surrounded by people who feed on gossip, derogatory slurs, and just negativity in general. Having that familiar feeling of trying to climb out of a muddy, slippery hole. Just signed up here because I'm grasping at straws.

[Agora1]

Hi Grey_Sheep and Welcome to our support forum. We've all been down that muddy, slippery hole at one time or another. With the help of these genuine and caring men and women on the forum, we can help support you through your struggles. We understand that we have to surround ourselves with positivity. Negative people, negative comments will do nothing but hold us down. We extend our hands in helping pull you out of this grey spot in your mind. You can do this by believing in yourself and not allowing others to try and convince you differently.

Remember Grey_Sheep that when it rains, look for the rainbow but when it's dark, look for the stars. We are about to help you on your life's journey. x

[Butterfly60]

I have same problem. Surrounded by negative people. Makes you feel like your all alone in this. Sometimes I would just like to walk out my front door and find someone happy to be around me. Hard when the negative people are your family.

[Grey_Sheep in reply to Butterfly60]

exactly.

[fauxartist]

I'm sorry to hear that about your relationships Grey-Sheep...and would recommend you get away from these toxic people and limit contact if you can't get away from them. That is unhealthy and destructive to our happiness to always be brought down by the actions perceived from others. So change your life...only you can do that...you have the choice who to interact with or not to. Even if it's family....you do not have to subject yourself to someone else's negativity unless you want to. Nobody can make you feel inferior unless you let them. Learn to surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself and them. We all deserve to be loved for who we are. Nobody can make us happy unless we want to be.

[SmilesLots]

I have a "happiness policy" that I use to decide if I want to let people in to my life. If they don't pass the "happiness" test they are rejected. Now, I am surrounded by happy (most of the time), positive, supportive people.

[Grey_Sheep]

Thanks, folks. It's kind of long and complex, but essentially they are my mother's friends and also some of my family. I do not try to keep these people in my life, and it is sometimes difficult to not see them because of her.

[Marshall64 in reply to Grey_Sheep]

It is unfortunate that the negative gossipy people are unavoidable. I can't understand people like that and I had to give up trying to figure them out.

Try and balance that with something more positive. I'm a spiritual person and I lean on that to get through the existence with negative people.