Posted by Noa on April 22, 2000, at 13:56:25
In reply to Re: anxiety blindspots , posted by CarolAnn on April 22, 2000, at 8:31:24
Janice,
As I read all these wonderful posts, I think that my response to you is that what is so confusing about the concept of "self-esteem" for those of us with mood disorders is that our experiences of our self is at the mercy of our fluctuating biochemistry. This makes it hard to establish a steady, reliable sense of self that is "good enough". For me, medication helps to address this problem but therapy is also a key component of my treatment, because through therapy, I am trying to integrate the varying ways I experience myself and to bring them together somehow--the depressed me that has pathetically low self esteem, and the not-depressed me, that feels I am a worthy human being. For people who have hypomanic or manic episodes, the work of integration would involve also the more elated sense of self, as well, I suppose.
poster:Noa
thread:30698
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000420/msgs/30973.html