I've let down my family.

Post Reply New Topic

Yes. Incredibley so.
By letting myself down, I have let my family down...or is it vice versa? In either case, I didn't achieve goals that I set for myself.

I don't understand your depression. You're only like sixteen. Why not go out and achieve those goals? It's never too late (in your case it's not even late at all).

Brittany,

You haven't let anyone down. Life certainly doesn't stop at 16 and I know lots of people who have achieved less than you in more than double that timespan. That doesn't make them letdowns either.

Be yourself.

Set realistic and achievable goals

and be prepared to accept the changes that occur to those goals along the way.

Age has nothing to do with depression.
It's not as easy as simply "going out and achieving those goals". Unless you've been depressed, you have no idea how much effort it takes to just get out of the house [literally]. If I could just go out and make my life better I would, trust me.

I feel at times that I never give them attention so the least I can do is achieve something for them. But then I get pressured and say "f**k it" and get mad at them for putting pressure on me to do stuff. Not that they're doing it now. But if they don't sometimes I feel even worse, I feel like they're so nice and accomodating and patient and I'm still not doing anything for them.

Just because one gives up the fight at one point doesn't mean you can't rise and fight again.


Believe it or not, its normal in life to feel that you've let yourself down. When you are unable to achieve your goals it is frustrating and you feel bad about it... but thats life. You can't win all the time... but you can keep trying until you do.

What's nifty is that even if you do not win or reach your goals you learn very important lessons that are guaranteed to help you avoid the same mistake in the future... perhaps even more importantly, avoid those mistakes when you're going after something far more important than that in which you failed at an earlier time in your life.

Whoa there Brittany - are you saying that you're frequently too depressed to go out of the house?

That's pretty serious - talk it through with us....

I know you feel like you've let down your family but I can't see how that would affect your going out of the house - there must be another reason.

- Are you worried about what other people will see/say?
- Are you scared?
- Do you just feel - what's the point - where would I go?

Can you give us some more info so we can help?

Are you seeking psychological help? That would probably be the most effective step for clinical depression.

'If you don't live up to the expectations of others, that's their mistake, not your failure.'

-Richard Feynman, Nobel Laureate in Physics

you havent let them down id say its more like they let you down honestly. and your still smart brittany being smart doesnt mean your good at school. anyway you already know how i feel on the subject, but you do have to make an effort on your own sometimes.

^ I second that.

Making the effort is hard when going through a depression.. but it is one of the most important things you can do. Even a little effort.. even a small attempt can do wonders.