"I should be better than them." "Why can't I just get this right?" "I'm simply not good enough, not ever."

These weren't just passing thoughts; for a long, long time, they were the relentless soundtrack of my mind. The feeling they left behind? Utterly awful. It was this indescribable, debilitating weight, a constant torment that made me question my very worth. Some days, it was just a deep sense of being lost, wrapped in a pervasive loneliness.

What struck me most was the absolute shock when I realized others might be going through the same thing. It honestly never crossed my mind that these same negative thoughts, this skewed self-perception, could be so universal. I felt so singular in my struggle.

Eventually, this inner turmoil began to morph into something more outwardly volatile. A quiet aggression started to brew, and it wasn't long before it erupted in my behavior, especially when I felt pushed or challenged. Annoyance, anger, irritation, frustration – they became my unwelcome guides, steering me down a path that felt utterly stuck. I saw how deeply it was impacting me, narrowing my focus and casting a long shadow over every facet of my life.

The narrative in my head finally started to change when I found myself speaking with a professional. It was like a curtain lifted, revealing a whole new perspective on how to reframe my thoughts. I guess, subconsciously, I might have known 'reframing' was a concept, but understanding how to apply it? That was a complete mystery until I was shown the way.

Opening up to someone truly neutral – someone who knew nothing of my past until I shared my stories, my life, my struggles, my deepest pain – made an undeniable difference. It allowed me to see the incredible fragility that lies within us all, and with that realization came an even more powerful one: that we possess the ability to overcome that very fragility, with every ounce of our courage.

This whole journey has gifted me with so many profound insights, opportunities I genuinely believe I would have missed entirely if I hadn't taken that leap.

It truly helped me heal, and I sincerely hope that by sharing this, it might offer a flicker of light for you too.