Dear Annie:

You wrote that you suffer from seasonal depression and winter is now approaching.  In your previous thread and in this one, you described plenty of emotional upset in summer time: June-July 2020, and June-August 2021.

I was thinking: how can I  suggest something that will make you feel better: Positive Affirmations came to mind, which means positive phrases which you repeat to yourself which describe how you want to be. So, I looked over your posts to see what you most need and what kinds of positive affirmations will work for you personally. I will quote from you and suggest a fitting positive affirmation in boldface.

The following positive affirmations indicate not what you are currently experiencing, but what is possible for you to experience in the future- not with your family members, but with people you will meet in the future.  If you imagine these experiences now,  you are more likely to experience them later on irl. I suggest that you repeat the following boldfaced affirmations slowly to yourself when you are in a relaxed state- not necessarily in the following order, and at times and places of your choice:

“I feel so lonely with no emotional connection or social connection to anyone”- I feel connected to people. I feel good.

“my family doesn’t understand how I feel and I would feel lonely.. I literally do not have any emotional connection and closeness with any family member”- People understand me. I feel connected to people. I feel good.

“everyone gave her more attention and care and I felt I lacked affection from them”- I receive attention from people. I receive care from people. I receive affection from people. It feels good.

“My mom.. (is) disappointed that I haven’t accomplished what is expected of me for people my age. I do feel ashamed at myself for it”- I am accomplishing things ever day. I am accomplishing what I expect of me. I feel accomplished. I feel good.

“My parents never respect my boundaries and feelings”- people respect my boundaries and feelings. It feels good to be respected.

“when I say ‘No’, I always end up feeling bad”- When I say No, I feel good. It feels good to say No.

“I just really wish parents would be more fair”- People treat me fairly. It feels good to be treated fairly.

“I just feel so unheard and unseen by my parents”- I am heard and seen. People see me, people hear me. What I think and what I feel and what I say.. matters!

“I’ve expressed anger and frustration to my parents”- people listen to me when I am angry. People want to help me solve my real life problems. It feels good to be listened to when I am angry.

“I often felt like a third wheel.. there were times I felt left out or excluded at work”- people want to be with me. People like being with me. People think highly of me. I am wanted, I am valued.

anita