SelfHelpCollective.com

A Tale of Self-Loathing, Or...?

by Sharon
(Ireland)

A young mother's tale of low self-esteem, poor body image, and a lack of support from family and partner - an emotional health warning for all of us, perhaps...

(STORY THEME: self esteem)

...Briefly, I come from a stable home with both parents and brother and sisters. I was always outgoing but never felt good about myself. So, at 15 I developed Anorexia / Bulimia and was ill for about 2 years in all.

I am so lucky to have survived it.

I recovered, finished school, and started college - where I then became pregnant, aged 21, by my then- long term boyfriend. Unfortunately, my boyfriend was emotionally abusive and very unsupportive, and so I lost friends, my family stopped calling...

And I ended up alone - very alone! - with baby, work and home.

I split up with this boyfriend when my child was five. Since then, I have had a number of other boyfriends, but sooner or later they all leave. Now I find that I am afraid to get involved because I hate myself so much sometimes and blame myself for everything though I am better now than ever, really.

I really just need to love myself more and I have taken the first step now, and put the past behind me.

And sharing this story with you helps...

STEVE UPDATE:
Sharon posted this story on Jan, 16th 2009 and I uploaded the story today, April 21st, 2009. And Sharon immediately replied with this story update...

Steve hi,
Since i wrote that story, I think I hit a major turning point. I have met a really great man and it's going really well now. I am so much more content now and much better able to deal with things. And I completed a course in life coaching which was great.

Thankyou for the chance to read that story back and realise how depressed I really was over the years, and to realise now that everything just built up and got to be too much and my whole self-image was as a result warped. I really hope my story helps others and by all means post this mail too. It's a really great thing you are doing to help others and the world needs more people like you.

With immense gratitude