Undeserving of friendship

[Foodielove23]

I feel like I’m undeserving of friends. Does anyone else feel that way? Like I don’t deserve to reach out to people to hangout with me if I’m lonely or sad because of feeling like a burden. In the past I’ve lost friendships due to my depression and now it’s hard for me to reach out to old friends when I’m in need of a friend. I try my best to be there for others when they need me but it doesn’t seem to go the other way. It’s already difficult to make new friends or maintain friendships as an adult and having depression and anxiety on top of that doesn’t help.

[Blankpayge]

I feel your pain. Depression is so hard and then when we have anxiety it makes it hard to reach out. Vicious cycle, right? I am 51 and was diagnosed with anxiety and depressionat age 16. And I’ve done a combo of prescriptions and self medication. Srick with prescriptions and anything other than self medication. Amazing times we live in, when us anxious creatures can reach out from our safe spaces! And we DO deserve friends. I have just come out to my family about my struggles, my lies. And I have found out they really do love me. I literally just broke down and said “I need help” and collapsed sobbing.

You might be surprised what just surrendering to our feelings can do. Your real friends will help.

[Foodielove23 in reply to Blankpayge]

I’m really glad to hear you were vulnerable enough to reach out to your family for help! Wish I could build up that kind of courage.

[catsrock]

That is your depression and anxiety playing tricks with your thinking. You are so deserving of friends. Depression for me causes all kinds of defeatist thinking. Maybe challenge those thoughts or think of what you would tell a friend who was thinking they weren't deserving. I hope you feel better soon.

[Foodielove23]

Hi! Sorry for the late response and appreciate your reply! Sometimes I feel like people don’t deserve to have me in their life when I only hear from them when they need me. It’s just hard to trust people nowadays to share who you really are and what you’re really going through.