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Never Feel Like I Fit In

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GingerAli

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I must of got triggered tonight (more than once) oh joy.

Anyways... I began to think about the feelings I had growing up regarding friendships and how I fit in in school. I never did fit in. I remember bursting into tears as a child after my only best friend moved away and I was left all alone. I wanted so desperately to have friends. But no matter how hard I tried people didn't like me and found me annoying. I didn't want to be annoying. I just wanted Friends and to feel like I belonged. People at school would make fun of me. Even if they weren't, I had been teased and made fun of so much that I constantly felt like that was the case.

My brother would make fun of me, and I suspect even spread rumors around the school about me. When I got older, he would date all of my close friends to exact control on me. Then he would tell me how much they didn't like me, that they only hung out with me because they felt sorry for me.

Eventually I went to a private school in hope that starting fresh would make a difference. The damage and view I had been given at my old school seemed irreversible. I never did feel like I fit in again, I never have. Through those tears at home to my mom. Tears of desperation and loneliness, my mom would blame me. She would say I was the one that was at fault. If I would do this or wouldn't do that, people would like me. As I got older, and despite going to a new school, though I had some friends I never fit in at school. I poured myself into my academics instead.

Throughout my school years I had always had anxiety. It was especially bad at the initial school. I remember freaking out and panicking Sunday nights because I knew I had school the next day. The new school was better because at least the teachers were kind. They were amazing in fact. They probably were what kept me alive. In high school my mom began taking me to dermatologist for my acne, and trying to control my food. She told me that no man would ever want me if I was fat and had acne.

I am now 27 years old and cannot look at myself and think I am beautiful. I have never been in a relationship longer than a month. I still struggle with acne and weight. I have now discovered that I have abnormally high cortisol which is to blame. My mom claimed I ate too much. When in reality I was starving myself. My mom still jokes when I do something "unfeminine" that it's no wonder I don't have a boyfriend. I am in therapy for this and many other things growing up, but I just don't know how to get past these feelings of not belonging and that I will never be pretty enough or thin enough or good enough. I still struggle with this paranoia everywhere I go.

I apologize if this isn't the correct thread for this, I didn't know where to put it.
 
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Dear Ginger,

I am so sorry you have been hurt in this way. You do not deserve it. I don't want to make excuses for Mom, but I wonder how she was raised. Regardless, you have something that she didn't - insight!!! Run with that! Know that what you are inside makes you more than anything your outside will convey. Your Mom's opinions do not make you any less valuable a human being in this world. Love her from afar, but if she continues with this kind of toxicity, then you may have to distance yourself from her. You have earned your right to a happy life by virtue of your humanity, and no one, not even parents, should have or be given the power to take this away from you. Don't see yourself as the image in the mirror that she taught you to hate, but rather as the decent, loveable soul that you truly are.
 
:tup:Awesome reply by Nursenurse

I'm so glad you're in therapy and, hopefully, learning to put aside those terrible messages given by your mom. I'm sure you've got lots of high quality characteristics and interests just waiting for the light to be shinned upon. Once that begins to happen for real, the smarmy fog your mom saw/sees you thought will be lifted.
 
Oh my dear, I have been through what you described. I am so sorry. What I did that worked for me was to extricate myself from every single toxic person in my life. Here is the definition of toxic: 1. Anyone who puts you down, makes backhanded remarks. 2. People with self destructive habits, such that the fallout affects you 3. People who are not self improving, no matter what the circumstance is. 4. Words do not match actions (BIGGIE).

I got into a little trouble on another thread for saying this, but you might find a LOT of your relationships fall under these categories. A lot of people are troubled, and if you have trauma, exposures to dysfunction could make it worse.

This is the only thing that works for me. Asserting my needs (look up techniques in non violent communication--- very Important), and observing the response of the other person really told me what they were like.

For instance, I recently broke up with a boyfriend who was a great guy, but he had serious anger issues that made the situation unsafe. I told him repeatedly, using clear non violent communication technique, that I did not feel safe when he did those things, especially recovering from trauma. He would not seek help or make adjustments in his behavior, so I left.

You gotta feel safe. Hang with others that help you cultivate this.
 
Thank you Mary. ( I hope it's ok to call you that) Unfortunately, to rid myself of every toxic elation ship would mean to rid myself of my entire family. I have begun to set boundaries, and my T feels hopeful that I will do well, so I am hopping I won't have to go that far. But I will keep this in the back of my mind. I will definitely be looking up non violent communication technique though. :)
 
Yes, what I needed for myself was extreme, but the situation was so toxic, that I could not handle the triggering any more. I found that my dissociation and flashbacks decreased hugely when I let them go. But others may not have to do this.

Good luck. Follow your gut.
 
@GingerAli I've gone through very similar things and I feel the same way about the thought of cutting off toxic people: it would be my entire family. This is really hard to think about, especially when they're nearly all I have left. It's also tough when I'm currently dependent on them financially.

The one solution I've thought of is (when affordable) moving far enough away from them= much more limited contact + a lot less guilt with an excuse (living farther away).
 
Ali or Ginger,

I grieve that you are in pain. (((GingerAli))) *Hugs*

I have always felt I never fit in since I got hurt which was early in life (on top of that I had ADHD like a Boss my whole time on this planet). One time on a school bus some older classmate tweaked my nipple and told me to go kill myself when I freaked. I was the weak one there and he was probably hurt too, looking in retrospect.

I didn't have a lot of friends, counting on one hand would leave a huge surplus. Until I hit High School, then I had no friends for a few years but the rejects accepted me (haha). I was in sports all 4 years, and I eventually became the jock *Gamer* guy in band and choir and a play. I stood as much my repressed, untreated ADHD butt could be as a huge barrier to bullies; making fun of the band people, the choir people, the theater people, 'dang it someone that is among us (though he's a moron, idiot) is with them'. If you were my friend in high school you were rare. Few people could put up with my weirdness, and I fully embrace that, when I'm happy I'm a wierdo. In a fun way.

I'm so sorry about what sounds like a near constant emotional abuse. I am constantly critical of my appearance, I will never be attractive (my pain tells me), so why try? You can heal, and find what and who you are as a desirable proposition.

So, in the most basic sense I understand the feeling of loneliness.

We are all here with you.
 
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