Hiding depression with humor


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

  • Suggested Resources

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    It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

    After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
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    Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
    Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.

    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

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Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Alcohol

Data:

  • Among the 133.1 million current alcohol users aged 12 or older in 2021, 60.0 million people (or 45.1%) were past month binge drinkers. The percentage of people who were past month binge drinkers was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (29.2% or 9.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (22.4% or 49.3 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (3.8% or 995,000 people). (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 15.1% (or 5.9 million people) were past month alcohol users. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.3% (or 3.2 million people) and 1.6% (or 613,000 people), respectively. (2021 NSDUH)
  • In 2020, 50.0% of people aged 12 or older (or 138.5 million people) used alcohol in the past month (i.e., current alcohol users) (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among the 138.5 million people who were current alcohol users, 61.6 million people (or 44.4%) were classified as binge drinkers and 17.7 million people (28.8% of current binge drinkers and 12.8% of current alcohol users) were classified as heavy drinkers (2020 NSDUH)
  • The percentage of people who were past month binge alcohol users was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (31. 4%) compared with 22.9% of adults aged 26 or older and 4.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of stroke, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, cancer, and other serious health conditions
  • Excessive alcohol use can also lead to risk-taking behavior, including driving while impaired. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver daily

Programs/Initiatives:

  • STOP Underage Drinking interagency portal - Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Talk. They Hear You.
  • Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
  • Talking with your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Relevant links:

  • National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
  • Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance
  • Alcohol Policy Information Systems Database (APIS)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Tobacco

Data:

  • In 2020, 20. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 57.3 million people) used nicotine products (i.e., used tobacco products or vaped nicotine) in the past month (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among past month users of nicotine products, nearly two thirds of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (63.1%) vaped nicotine but did not use tobacco products. In contrast, 88.9% of past month nicotine product users aged 26 or older used only tobacco products (2020 NSDUH)
  • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses. The CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States
  • The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health reports that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking cigarettes

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use data:

  • In 2021, 13.2 million people aged 12 or older (or 4.7%) used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. The percentage of people who vaped nicotine was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (14.1% or 4.7 million people), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (5.2% or 1.4 million people), then by adults aged 26 or older (3.2% or 7.1 million people).
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 11.0% (or 4.3 million people) used tobacco products or used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. Among people in this age group, 8.1% (or 3.1 million people) vaped nicotine, 5.4% (or 2.1 million people) used tobacco products, and 3.4% (or 1.3 million people) smoked cigarettes in the past month. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Among both middle and high school students, current use of e-cigarettes declined from 2019 to 2020, reversing previous trends and returning current e-cigarette use to levels similar to those observed in 2018
  • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women, especially because they contain nicotine and other chemicals

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Tobacco
  • Tips for Teens: E-cigarettes
  • Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
  • Synar Amendment Program

Links:

  • Truth Initiative
  • FDA Center for Tobacco Products
  • CDC Office on Smoking and Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: E-Cigarettes

Opioids

Data:

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 3. 3% (or 9.2 million people) misused opioids (heroin or prescription pain relievers) in the past year. Among the 9.2 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 8.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers compared with 1.1 million people who used heroin. These numbers include 574,000 people who both misused prescription pain relievers and used heroin in the past year. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 3.4% (or 9.5 million people) misused opioids in the past year. Among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 902,000 people used heroin (2020 NSDUH)
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Understanding the Epidemic, an average of 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose

Resources:

  • Medication-Assisted Treatment
  • Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
  • TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings
  • Opioid Use Disorder and Pregnancy
  • Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants
  • The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
  • Pregnancy Planning for Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Tips for Teens: Opioids
  • Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants
  • Tribal Opioid Response Grants
  • Provider’s Clinical Support System - Medication Assisted Treatment Grant Program

Links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Opioids
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
  • HHS Prevent Opioid Abuse
  • Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
  • Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network

Marijuana

Data:

  • In 2021, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 18. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 52.5 million people) using it in the past year. The percentage was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (35.4% or 11.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (17.2% or 37.9 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (10.5% or 2.7 million people).
  • The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (34.5%) compared with 16.3% of adults aged 26 or older and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Marijuana can impair judgment and distort perception in the short term and can lead to memory impairment in the long term
  • Marijuana can have significant health effects on youth and pregnant women.

Resources:

  • Know the Risks of Marijuana
  • Marijuana and Pregnancy
  • Tips for Teens: Marijuana

Relevant links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Centers on Marijuana
  • CDC Marijuana and Public Health

Emerging Trends in Substance Misuse:

  • Methamphetamine—In 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
  • Cocaine—In 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
  • Kratom—In 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Methamphetamine
  • Tips for Teens: Cocaine
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse

More SAMHSA publications on substance use prevention and treatment.

Last Updated: 01/05/2023

11 habits of people with hidden depression

Onedio favorites October 10, 2016, 03:38 PM ' updated by

hedgepom Onedio User

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. It is held to inform the public about mental health issues.

As you know, the most common mental illness is depression. On this day, we would like you to pay attention to your loved ones after reading this article. Perhaps your most dear and beloved person suffers from this disease, suffers from it, but does not want to open up to you. nine0009

Be aware that depression can often go unnoticed and unrecognized. A person with hidden depression is a person who struggles with his inner demons and tries not to show them to anyone. Such people may or may not be treated, they may or may not share their condition with loved ones. The problem is that the world becomes more gloomy when we stop trying to understand each other. We tend to think that the hardships of life are not hidden and that they are as easy to spot as a scar from a battle. nine0009

But know that spiritual wounds are sometimes very difficult to see, especially for those who don't even try to do it.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lexi-herri...

1. They may deliberately try to look like they are doing well and even constantly radiate streams of happiness and always be on the rise.

.

If you think that people with depression are always dull and gloomy comrades, then you are mistaken. Depression is not just a bad mood. Those who live with constant depression can learn to manage their surface emotions, and even be the most seemingly "happy" person in your environment. We are all different. Quite often, people with deep depression control themselves in public and look quite positive, despite what is going on in their souls. No one wants to upset others with their problems, even if it means hiding their true feelings. nine0009

2. They may be on medication all the time.

There are serious treatments for depression, such as drugs and
therapy.

But besides the drugs themselves, there are also daily habits as a way of life.
For example, certain music, exercises, walks, in general, everything that
helps them get out of a black depressive hole. Hidden depression is really terrible, especially when a person is forced to deal with it alone. nine0009

3. They may have big breakup problems.

If you have ever been depressed, then you can understand that this is a
heavy burden, not only for the one who is depressed, but also for the one who is nearby. Sometimes when you let someone get too close and let them see your struggle and misfortune, that person just walks away. Of course, it’s hard to blame those who leave, but for a person with depression, a simple breakup can result in a constant feeling of abandonment by everyone and a feeling of loneliness. nine0009

Therefore, they often hide their depression even from their loved ones. After all, there is nothing more painful to understand that the dark side of your soul is so terrible that even a loving person cannot look at it.

4. They can create stories to cover their actions.

It could be anything from cuts on their wrist to not eating dinner. People living with various types of depression experience many difficulties that can interfere with the normal course of their lives from time to time. In such cases, they come up with all sorts of excuses to cover up the results of their mental pain. Most often, they themselves do not want to admit that they are on the very edge, so they know very well how to hide their condition. nine0009

5. They may have strange deviations in food intake or daily routine.

These signs may seem minor, but they have serious consequences.
Those who live trying to hide their depression sometimes show only slight hints of it. Excessive or insufficient sleep is one of the most obvious signs of depression. It's the same with nutrition - if your loved one eats too much or too little, then this is an alarm bell. Sleep and nutrition are the most important elements of health. And a person is able to control these elements independently. Depression creates such conditions that a person takes control of himself. Sleep can be the only way to turn off your consciousness and get away from pain, or, conversely, become an impossible achievement due to obsessive thoughts. It's the same with food. nine0009

6. They may have a different, more serious view of the substances they consume.

A person struggling with depression knows very well what affects his mood and how.
They know that alcohol is a depressant, and if you drink too much of it, it will be impossible to manage your depressive mood and not show it. They are also well aware that caffeine and sugar lift their spirits, as do prescribed antidepressants. And they know perfectly well what and with what they should not be interfered with. nine0029 All this they know so well, because all of the above changes their mood much more than people who do not suffer from depression.

7. They may have very clear but difficult to understand ideas about life and death.

Not every person with depression has suicidal thoughts. However, depression often provokes reflection on the meaning of life. And a person begins to frantically search for all the answers to life's questions, realizing that everything inevitably leads to death. Such frequent immersion in painful thoughts can lead to the fact that it will no longer be possible to emerge from them. nine0009

8. They are most often talented and expressive.

Many of the best inspiring artists, musicians, and leaders in our world are also affected by this plague called "mental illness." Such depth of emotions experienced by them most often results in their work. They are able to combine the good and bad parts of their souls in it and show the beauty of life through the shadows of the emotions they experience.

9. They often look for the meaning of something.

Everyone wants to have a purpose in life. We want to be sure that everything we do, we do for good. To be sure that we are moving in the right direction. nine0009

And people with latent depression also want all this, but with more
thirst and more despair. Feelings of fear and inadequacy of what is happening are far from new for those whose minds and souls are under the yoke of depression. And very often such people want to somehow compensate for their inner fragility and vulnerability.
Therefore, they can change the direction in which they go much more often and be incredibly passionate about the search for real true happiness.

10. Sometimes they may show their pain and give a faint hint that they need help. nine0023

Even a person who has already adjusted to his depression and knows how to live with this burden sometimes needs help. But such cries of despair from people who always look strong are easy to miss. Sometimes it is simply dangerous for them to be alone, even if they claim otherwise. And if suddenly they were able to open up to you and tell you what is happening to them, then know that this is one of the most important moments, it is such moments that create a strong and reliable bridge in your relationship, because it is impossible to constantly torment yourself and hide your true feelings in front of the best friend or loved one. nine0009

11.

They are looking for love and support, like all people.

Not showing the world your spiritual demons does not mean being dishonest.
People live by hiding their depression in order to gain protection. Protection for their hearts, and the hearts of the people who surround them.

We live in a world that forces us to hide everything that looks
ugly and gloomy. But we are not obliged to do so.

And the best thing you can do for people with depression is to understand that they need love and support, just like everyone else on this earth. nine0029 Never turn your back on a person who is at war with himself. Cry when you feel like it. Lend a helping hand, even if the door is slammed in front of you. Open your soul despite the fear of being misunderstood. If we continue to ignore the bad, then the good will go unnoticed.

Self-doubt: 6 ways to overcome it

Anna Krymskaya, a clinical psychologist and YouTalk co-founder, tells where self-doubt comes from, how it differs from low self-esteem, how to overcome it, and how to recognize a person who is insecure in himself

We all have moments when we feel like we're not up to par: maybe we didn't achieve our goals at work, got a low score on an exam, or weren't quite savvy in a conversation. It is perfectly normal to doubt your competences and realize your shortcomings from time to time. Moreover, it is even necessary for self-improvement and development. The problem arises when we get “stuck” in this feeling of inferiority, self-doubt becomes an obstacle to self-expression and prevents the achievement of goals. nine0009

What is self-doubt

The American Psychological Association defines self-doubt as a feeling of inferiority, inability to cope with life's difficulties, accompanied by a sense of general uncertainty and anxiety about one's goals, abilities and relationships with other people. An insecure person is sure only that everything turns out worse for him than for others, and that everyone else is smarter, stronger, more beautiful, and so on.

Uncertainty makes it difficult to adequately assess one's capabilities. Instead of working on self-development, an insecure person gives up because he does not believe that his efforts can fix something, which means that he believes that it is not even worth starting to do something.

Uncertainty is often confused with low self-esteem. But these states are not the same, although they often coexist with each other. The word "confidence" (English confidence) comes from the Latin fidere - "believe, trust." To be self-confident means to believe in yourself and, in particular, in your ability to successfully or at least adequately interact with the world. A confident person is ready to take on new challenges, seize opportunities, handle difficult situations, and take responsibility if things go wrong. Confidence is also something that is noticeable to others. nine0009

Self-esteem is how a person perceives his own value and significance of his personality, life, activities. Self-esteem does not depend on skills, it is unconditional love for yourself as you are. A person with adequate self-esteem has a belief about himself that goes something like this: "I am a good person, entitled to attention and respect from others - simply in fact, and not because I deserve it in some way."

Constant and strong self-doubt, low self-esteem and a sense of superiority of others over oneself together form what is called in psychology an "inferiority complex". nine0009

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Signs of self-doubt

It is noteworthy that many find it difficult to determine their level of self-confidence. You can feel confident in one area of ​​your life, but in another - feel insecure, doubt your abilities and not understand what is holding back their development.

Insecure people, as a rule:

  • Socially withdrawn - they avoid social events or force themselves to be socially active, but at the same time they feel tense, as if watching themselves from the side; nine0119
  • Experiencing constant anxiety, which shifts the priorities of attention and leads to a distorted perception of reality;
  • They do not know how to accept compliments because they do not believe that they are being told the truth;
  • Worry about what other people think of them;
  • They neglect to take care of themselves, because they see no point in it, because nothing will change anyway;
  • Not ready to take on challenges and step out of comfort zone;
  • Constantly doubt the decisions made; nine0119
  • Retreat from conversations that can lead to conflict, even if they think they are right;
  • Constructive criticism is poorly perceived, it offends and hurts them;
  • Rarely speak out in group conversation;
  • Constantly explain and justify their actions;
  • Complain and blame other people a lot, removing responsibility from themselves and their actions;
  • Often use defensive body language, cross their arms over their chest, walk around with a stern face, unconsciously hiding themselves from people; nine0119
  • Seek the approval of others;
  • Pessimists and afraid of the future;
  • They are ashamed when they do not achieve perfection in any business;
  • Apologize often;
  • Buy things they don't really like;
  • They lie simply to embellish their stories, which they do not find interesting enough;
  • Often avoid eye contact;
  • Choose self-deprecating humor as a defense mechanism: it's better to joke about yourself before someone else does. nine0119

Where does self-doubt come from

There are a lot of factors that affect self-confidence. These are the characteristics of family upbringing, and the culture in which the child grew up, and relationships with a romantic partner, the environment and mental health status.

The development of self-confidence depends on contact with significant adults in childhood. First of all, let's talk about parents. Ideally, in order not to grow up insecure, the child should receive from them a sense of self-worth - when adults notice and support the activity and initiatives of the child, give him the freedom to experiment, believe in his abilities, praise and reward for success. At the same time, they do not depreciate in case of failures, allow mistakes (and also admit their mistakes and apologize for them), are interested in the opinion of the child and take it into account when making decisions, respect the child’s boundaries as well as their own. One part of these points is aimed at loving and accepting the child as a whole. The other is to support his actions, the ability to notice successes and not grieve over failures. Accordingly, the former will cultivate a sense of adequate self-esteem, the latter - self-confidence. nine0009

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However, it is difficult to find a family in which these recommendations will be fully implemented. No wonder so many people feel insecure. But if the childhood experience was unsuccessful, this does not mean that it will determine the rest of your future life and you will not be able to overcome self-doubt. In adulthood, we have the opportunity to fill in the gaps, give ourselves the care, love and support that was not enough in childhood. You can start with a trip to a psychologist. Perhaps the main advantages of psychotherapy are the ability to “get acquainted” with a small one, work through injuries and make up for deficiencies. nine0009

In addition to childhood trauma, there are enough triggers in today's world that make us feel inadequate and insecure. This is, for example, a flood of information from companies that sell us products and services designed to fix "problems" with our body or lifestyle that we would otherwise not notice. Or social networks that broadcast the idea that others allegedly always have perfect relationships, a great career and a model appearance.

Self-doubt and low self-esteem can also be a consequence of more serious trauma associated with the experience of violence - physical, sexual or emotional. In such cases, work with a specialist psychologist is necessary. Do-it-yourself strategies for coping with uncertainty in such a situation can often be useless and sometimes harmful. nine0009

How to become more confident

Confidence is not an innate, fixed characteristic. It is an ability that anyone can acquire and improve over time. If you are reading this article, this is already a good start. Even learning and understanding what confidence is is a big step in the right direction.

Working with a psychologist will help speed up this process. It will be based on a strategy developed taking into account your inputs: the characteristics of childhood upbringing, the presence of traumatic experiences; the environment you are in right now. nine0009

But there are also some tips and exercises that will be useful, regardless of your experience. To overcome self-doubt, you can try to do the following:

Write down everything that you can praise yourself for

Try at the end of the day to note what exactly today you did well, in what areas you managed to advance, what strengths to show. By devaluing ourselves and our actions, we often hinder the development of our confidence. Try to fix your thoughts and appreciate even the smallest successes. They are no less important than great achievements. nine0009

Acknowledge your emotions

To overcome insecurity, you need to start acknowledging your every emotion, including the most difficult ones. Try saying words of encouragement to yourself, change your internal dialogue to supportive instead of critical. For example, instead of “you still won’t succeed, as usual”, you should say “you will definitely succeed, and if you don’t succeed this time, then try again, then you will succeed for sure!”. It is not scary if at first these words do not sound sincere. Think about how you would talk to a child, how you would support him - and try to support yourself in the same way. nine0009

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Talk frankly with loved ones

Insecure people strongly depend on the opinions of others. The paradox is that few of us know what others really think of us. You can try to talk to friends and loved ones - ask what qualities they value in you and whether any of these qualities are unique. You can also try to find out what others think you are really good at and what they can rely on you for. Sometimes we get too carried away with self-criticism and forget to notice the good in ourselves. nine0009

Make a list of your valuable resources

Try to write down on paper your valuable resources: knowledge, education, skills, professional and personal experience, character traits, circle of acquaintances, values ​​and beliefs, goals and plans. Perhaps in the process you will find items that you forgot about and they will pleasantly surprise you. Then you can reread the list and note the resources that you can rely on in different situations - including difficult periods of life. You can also think about what resources you would like to develop and sketch out a plan of action. Starting to do it, with new experience, you can gain stability and confidence. nine0009

Transform fear into interest

Another domain of uncertainty is shyness and fear in dealing with people. Often, it is with those whose opinion he cares that an insecure person will feel heaviness in communication and awkwardness. It is worth trying to transform fear into interest and involvement. Every time you notice yourself concentrating on the other person's thoughts about you, try asking yourself why this person is interesting to you, what you like about him, and what you don't understand. This approach will help to neutralize fear, keep the conversation going, create a comfortable environment for communication and overcome uncertainty. nine0009

Take care of your physical and emotional health

if you do not get enough sleep and feel lethargic.


Learn more