Welcome. I’ve chosen to share my experiences with depression and my perspective on life in hopes that they will be of benefit to someone. Possibly you.
Feel free to share your thoughts, comments and perspectives, all of them free from judgement. It’s only as a group that we can help lift each other up, build confidence and work to end the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
I've always been an optimistic person, but for most of my life, I've wondered why I never seemed to feel any joy or happiness no matter how exciting something was to everyone else and should have been to me as well. I noticed this about myself early on and have a clear memory of being (about) 5 yrs old telling my mom that I didn't feel like part of the family (which I clearly was and still am) and that I was sad. It was things like this throughout my life that made me wonder "what's wrong with me?".
In about 2014, was I diagnosed with depression. This gave me a whole new perspective of myself and why my thoughts and emotions didn't seem to match what I "should" have been feeling. Even though I struggle with what being happy looks and feels like, people continuously tell me I have a very positive outlook on life.
While being happy and being optimistic are two very different things, being optimistic gives hope that happiness is waiting for me out there somewhere. While I can't always control my emotions, I can create, or at least shape my perspective of myself and the world around me. Optimism is simply seeing "the glass as half full instead of half empty". If optimism isn't second nature to you, you can train your mind to look for the positive in every situation no matter how bleak it seems. I've definitely learned that life is a roller coaster and the more you can relax and enjoy the ride, the more pleasant it is.
From my own struggles, the desire to share my experiences and perspectives with others kept coming to mind and in 2015, the basic concept of Miss Silverlining began. I have no idea where it's going (if anywhere), but I intend to enjoy the ride!