Does Depression Make You Feel Worthless? You Are Not Alone

Has depression made you feel worthless? If so, you are not alone. You may even believe that you are worthless due to depression. Read on to find out how to fight this.

Have you said any of these things to yourself?

• "I am a mess and can't do anything right."
• "I will always be behind in life . . . maybe I should stop trying."
• "I don't deserve love/happiness/peace."

If you have ever experienced depression, I am sure you have said some version of these things to yourself. Worse, you may believe these are absolute truths that can never change. None of this is your fault because depression has the power to ruin one's self-esteem. 

The Link Between Depression and Feeling Worthless

According to Mind,¹ 

"self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. It's based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which sometimes feel really difficult to change. Your self-esteem may change suddenly, or you might have had low self-esteem for a while. Having low self-esteem isn't a mental health problem in itself, but they are closely linked. If lots of things affect your self-esteem for a long time, this might lead to mental health problems such as depression or anxiety."

The above definition shows that low self-esteem can cause depression. The reverse is also true in my experience: depression can cause low-self esteem. It's a vicious cycle. From what I've found, the result is the same in both cases. You feel inadequate, focus on what you don't have while trivializing what you do have, and catastrophize. In simple words, you become your own worst critic.

Feeling Good About Yourself Is Hard But Possible

When depression makes me feel worthless, negative self-talk takes over, and nothing I do makes me feel like I am good enough. For example, if I set a goal and accomplish it, I feel good about it only for a little while. Soon, accomplishing that goal feels trivial, like anybody could do it. But when I fail to achieve a "no big deal" goal, I berate myself for days. Soon, I begin to forget or minimize my good qualities, achievements, and even the people and things I am grateful to have in my life. 

Left unchecked, this lack of self-esteem worsens and affects my mental and physical energy levels. Looking down on myself for an extended period eventually makes me forget my inherent worth as a human being. Therefore, it's best to nip feelings of worthlessness in the bud. Check out the video below to know how you can feel better about yourself when depression affects your self-worth. 

How do you cope when depression makes you feel worthless? Share your experience and tips in the comments section below. 

Source

1. What is self-esteem? (2019, January). Mind. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-esteem/about-self-esteem/