// TW: undiagnosed cognitive distortion
I was reflecting on myself, these vague thoughts, such as “I have no friends” and “No one likes me,” actually harm me. They alter my behavior toward myself and others, affecting my ability to form genuine connections, which also involve community and other people. Not just me alone. Other people also want to be heard and to express their individuality, not just me. If I pass away one day, it’s not me who buries myself, but the community.
If I could travel back in time, I would visit my childhood self and gently explain how telling myself these negative things would shape how I think about and treat myself for years to come. I’m doing the work to undo that now, but the earlier you can break that habit of negative self-reflection the better.