Do you ever feel worthless?

[NightTimeForever]

I've been feeling this way a lot lately, especially having been unemployed for well over a year. The only positive thing I can claim is that I'm doing fairly well in my online classes (too nervous to attend actual classes).

Anyway, on top of being unemployed, I don't have any social network to speak of outside of my immediate family. I suppose I had quasi-friendships at my old job, but even then I didn't rely on those too much.

Does anyone else here feel this way? That you are utterly worthless? I'm going to go out on a limb and say "yes," but I'm for specificity, here.

 

[JuiceB]

Yeah I feel that way all the time. Difference between me and you is that I have a job (10 years total) that I'm sick of. Can't find anything else at the moment but at least it keep the bils paid.

I don't have any social life either. No friends. Family members who don't understand me. Not many positive achievements in my life. I guess that counts.

 

[jaim38]

Yes, I'm in the same boat. I'm also taking online classes because I've been bullied in my off-line classes so many times. I'm also unemployed and don't have a wide social network that I can use. I'm thinking about changing my name to something else because my name has been disgraced many times over and I'm afraid I won't succeed with such a name. I hope my new name will bring better luck.

 

[truffleshuffle]

I get that way on occasion. I think everyone dose

 

[dean01]

i think many people have been in a state where they feel worthless for me its just part of depression. the best thing i find is to remember its just a thought and it will pass. stay strong

 

[NP88]

Sure, I have. Though I'd have to say as Dean did that it's a psychological low point and it always passes. Everyone has potential to do great things. It's just about finding a way to unlock that which IMO is pursuing the things that make you happy without fear. You sound like your working towards something , keep at it. I'm sure you'll find your way.

 

[kyle]

Get a job ASAP. Being unemployed is one of the worst things that one can be, IMO. If I was ever unemployed, within a week I would have too much time on my hands to get in that negative frame of mind. I got depressed, and avoided pretty much everyone. Work gives you a sense of purpose. Good luck.

 

[MikeyC]

Get a job ASAP. Being unemployed is one of the worst things that one can be, IMO. If I was ever unemployed, within a week I would have too much time on my hands to get in that negative frame of mind. I got depressed, and avoided pretty much everyone. Work gives you a sense of purpose. Good luck.

Working does make you feel like you're contributing, yes. Working also sucks. Lose-lose.

 

[gustavofring]

Yep.

I am currently still looking for a job. The job market is pretty hopeless. I can't find something in the field I've studied in and I can't find anything else.

Sitting at home creates depression. You have literally nothing to talk about because you spend your days doing nothing, wasting time, trying to occupy your mind. Maybe those with much self discipline can be productive at home. Not me though. I feel like the world is passing me by, everyone is being productive and is able to do fun stuff next to it.

It sucks.

 

[Duzmiu]

i feel worthless most of the time, ive been unemployed for over 2 years now and i did try find jobs but kept getting rejected in interviews so in the end i gave up, now i dont care about working i somewhat enjoy being alone, sure i get lonely but i watch stuff online alot or play games so mind is kept occupied.

if you wanna work try get one where u can work at home

 

[Section_31]

i do, but only when my inlaws are around. theyre good at that.

im learning more and more to live for myself and not give two ****es what others say or think, but their words can still hurt at times.

 

[gustavofring]

If you're unemployed like me, one tip I can give, what lifts me a bit out of the brain fog and stops me from wasting time with mindless browsing and gaming, and that will make me feel like I do something useful = Learn a language.

There's stuff like Michel Thomas and Rosetta Stone available on torrents. Today I spent the afternoon learning French in the library and I feel like 1. my brain has been used and I learned something and 2. I didn't waste my time.

I guess you can apply this with everything. Go to the library, get a book, and study a field you want to know more about.

 

[sullyS25]

When I did a lot of drugs and drank alcohol I felt worthless on a daily basis. Nowadays I hardly ever feel that way. I only work 12 hours a week so it would be easy to fall into the hole of self-loathing BUT I make myself do things when I'm not working. I exercise, go on a hike, clean my house, read a book, meditate, or whatever else there is to do.

It is very easy for people like us to feel paralyzed by our anxiety and the result of being paralyzed by it results in feelings of unworthiness. This is exactly why I FORCE myself to go outside my comfort zone as much as possible because if I dont, I am stuck in a vicious cycle of not wanted to go out because I am anxious and hating myself for not going out. I can seek to blame society for these feelings and for my actions but the truth is, when I am in that state of mind it is of my own making. It is all in my head. I stay at home because I tell myself if I go out I will be anxious and I dont want to be anxious and then when I stay in, I tell myself Im worthless..

These are all just thoughts and if I can learn to observe them without judging them and accept them for what they are....I can find peace. Thoughts are like clouds in the sky, they come and they go. I cant control them but I can be taken away by them and believe they are actually are true. If I can observe them like I observe clouds in the sky and not attach to them.....I find freedom.

That has been my experience and it has helped me a lot in my journey of growth.

 

[gustavofring]

Great post, Sully.

 

[OceanMist]

Worthless is kind of a broad word, isn't it? I mean what exactly do you mean by worthless?

In the job market practically everyone is worthless considering the economy. By that I mean every position can be filled by the next prospect in line in the USA. So in that way, of course I'm worthless. Someone can just do my job if I were to lose my job.

I don't have any friends either. I don't see someone's self-worth being based on friendships though. I'd say that's more of a status thing and general well-being.

I guess I just don't see why I should be "worth" something? I don't care about contributing to society. Maybe I'm just different because I don't feel the need to matter or be valuable to any job or people to that matter. If I am worthless, it doesn't really bother me.

Call me selfish but all I really care about is my own personal health and life. I don't want other good people to get hurt, but I really could care less about contributing to an economy that always has back ups for me or a society that always has back ups for me.

Take my former group of friends. They filled my spot with new friends within seconds that are more social. My absense was quite meaningless if you ask me. Hell, they may be better off without me.

 

[NightTimeForever]

Hi NightTimeForever. I'm sorry that your feeling worthless. I know that feeling that way can be extremely painful. Unemployment doesn't help people feel good and I'm also unemployed. Long term unemployment makes people feel defeated, social anxiety or not. The difficult economy has taught us that.

You might be too nervous to attend class. But you are working on yourself by enrolling in online courses. Please don't downplay the significance of pursuing academia. College is difficult. It's awesome that your doing well with the curriculum. I wish that the other aspects of your life were better for you. Please don't be too hard on yourself.

Yeah, I'm trying not to downplay the significance of doing well in college, but at times I feel that my grasp of concepts is well below the norm, for some reason. I've also been diagnosed with ADHD-PI, so there is that extra complication, which may be causing the former. Hard to tell at this point.

Get a job ASAP. Being unemployed is one of the worst things that one can be, IMO. If I was ever unemployed, within a week I would have too much time on my hands to get in that negative frame of mind. I got depressed, and avoided pretty much everyone. Work gives you a sense of purpose. Good luck.

Work does give a sense of purpose, and it's sort of telling I haven't really bothered to look for a job in general, except for one occasion. I don't feel I have worth to offer, so I don't even bother looking for employment.

When I did a lot of drugs and drank alcohol I felt worthless on a daily basis. Nowadays I hardly ever feel that way. I only work 12 hours a week so it would be easy to fall into the hole of self-loathing BUT I make myself do things when I'm not working. I exercise, go on a hike, clean my house, read a book, meditate, or whatever else there is to do.

It is very easy for people like us to feel paralyzed by our anxiety and the result of being paralyzed by it results in feelings of unworthiness. This is exactly why I FORCE myself to go outside my comfort zone as much as possible because if I dont, I am stuck in a vicious cycle of not wanted to go out because I am anxious and hating myself for not going out. I can seek to blame society for these feelings and for my actions but the truth is, when I am in that state of mind it is of my own making. It is all in my head. I stay at home because I tell myself if I go out I will be anxious and I dont want to be anxious and then when I stay in, I tell myself Im worthless..

These are all just thoughts and if I can learn to observe them without judging them and accept them for what they are....I can find peace. Thoughts are like clouds in the sky, they come and they go. I cant control them but I can be taken away by them and believe they are actually are true. If I can observe them like I observe clouds in the sky and not attach to them.....I find freedom.

That has been my experience and it has helped me a lot in my journey of growth.

I wouldn't mind working hours similar to yours, in a relatively low-stress job. What kind of work do you do, if you don't mind me asking?

Worthless is kind of a broad word, isn't it? I mean what exactly do you mean by worthless?

In the job market practically everyone is worthless considering the economy. By that I mean every position can be filled by the next prospect in line in the USA. So in that way, of course I'm worthless. Someone can just do my job if I were to lose my job.

I don't have any friends either. I don't see someone's self-worth being based on friendships though. I'd say that's more of a status thing and general well-being.

I guess I just don't see why I should be "worth" something? I don't care about contributing to society. Maybe I'm just different because I don't feel the need to matter or be valuable to any job or people to that matter. If I am worthless, it doesn't really bother me.

Call me selfish but all I really care about is my own personal health and life. I don't want other good people to get hurt, but I really could care less about contributing to an economy that always has back ups for me or a society that always has back ups for me.

Take my former group of friends. They filled my spot with new friends within seconds that are more social. My absense was quite meaningless if you ask me. Hell, they may be better off without me.

I meant worthless in a general way, which is why I didn't really specify. I don't feel as if I'm good at anything. Also, in order to support myself, I have to some some sort of worth.

I sort of had friends at my former job, but honestly I didn't trust them at all, and in some ways I blame myself because I revealed my insecurities far too often. I think those instances kept occurring because I had no real world accomplishments to hold on to, at least that's my theory, anyway.

 

[OceanMist]

I meant worthless in a general way, which is why I didn't really specify. I don't feel as if I'm good at anything. Also, in order to support myself, I have to some some sort of worth.

I sort of had friends at my former job, but honestly I didn't trust them at all, and in some ways I blame myself because I revealed my insecurities far too often. I think those instances kept occurring because I had no real world accomplishments to hold on to, at least that's my theory, anyway.

I do think that everyone is good at something.

I agree that in order to support ourselves we need to have a job that pays that bills.

As for making friends and holding on to them, it's tough for anyone who has SA. I feel ya.

 

[NightTimeForever]

I do think that everyone is good at something.

That's probably true, but it's whether or not that "something" can be marketed in such a way as to be useful in sustaining or attaining decent living circumstances, you know?

Well, anyway, despite my social isolation I do feel better that I'm pursuing academia, at least I've broken out of the rut I was in for seven years. I just hope this new rut doesn't last for the same amount of time or longer, concerning the antisocial aspects of my current situation.

This social anxiety dilemma has persisted ever since I was a teenager, and I'm wondering if there'll be a change of fortune for me, and I can change this pattern.

One of my biggest fears is being old and alone, without having any type of relationship experience. The other is confirmation that I'm indeed worthless.

 

[CrazyGirl]

all the time

 

[NightTimeForever]

If you're unemployed like me, one tip I can give, what lifts me a bit out of the brain fog and stops me from wasting time with mindless browsing and gaming, and that will make me feel like I do something useful = Learn a language.

There's stuff like Michel Thomas and Rosetta Stone available on torrents. Today I spent the afternoon learning French in the library and I feel like 1. my brain has been used and I learned something and 2. I didn't waste my time.

I guess you can apply this with everything. Go to the library, get a book, and study a field you want to know more about.

I've heard learning a language helps prevent Alzheimer's, which may be a good idea even though I'm nowhere near old age yet. It's funny you bring up gaming, while I'm certainly less of an avid gamer than I was, I still game a bit too much. I guess because it's cheaper than wasting gas to drive to all these random places where I won't actually do anything but hide in the corner.