Am I being selfish?
I have always tried to be a good friend. Give advice to my friends when they are in need, either if it was relationships or stress or depression. But I've never used to speak up about what I felt. I've always felt that maybe my problems were just some childish stuff and it would be selfish from me to throw unto another person. Now my family and I find ourselves in a very difficult situation that has affected us mentally and economically. We have a very promising plan to get out of the situation and at this moment everything seems to be going well. But since this started I've felt so tired and stressed, in nights like this one I tend to cry and ask myself why am I feeling like this. I feel useless, unmotivated and weak. There has been so many changes in my life, but everytime I seemed to adapt to one I get placed in another. And I can't do this anymore. I am so tired of adapting to new situations and having to deal with all the emotional mess that leaves in me by myself. But I can't talk to anyone, because no matter how bad I'm feeling I just don't want to make it worse to somebody else. My parents have been really stressed these days and the last thing they need is a depressed son. My little sister can't have someone so miserable as an example of what her future will look like. And my long-distance best friend, who I secretly love, can't have me (the one she always goes up to get support and advise) demonstrate that I'm actually weak and I don't know what to do anymore. Everytime I feel like something she or anybody else said bothered me I have to keep it in because I feel I would be oversensitive if I showed that something so small like a joke or a comment affected me so badly. I've even reached to the point of having bad thoughts, the "what if I wasn't here" kind of thoughts. And what scares me is the feeling that it might do more harm to others that it would to myself. The thought that my only reason to keep going is because I don't want others to feel sad. And I'm scared of what's going to happen when my hearth runs out of excuses. But I really feel like I'm being selfish, even about my friend who I secretly love, it makes me doubt on myself as if I really love her or I just want her to love me because I don't love myself anymore. I just want someone to hold me like I hold others and tell me that I will be okay, but I feel like I'm selfish and a bad person for even having to ask for something like that. It's painful, but I can't let others feel that pain because of me.
@brightPenny7945 Hi Penny!
"And my long-distance best friend, who I secretly love, can't have me (the one she always goes up to get support and advise) demonstrate that I'm actually weak and I don't know what to do anymore."
To want to stay strong for your friend(s) and sister is amazing but even heroes need support too. It is unhealthy to keep everything bottle up inside and certainly not good for you to put on a strong front all the time. Your friends wouldn't know they are hurting you if you do not speak up and tell them. I am sure, if they are true friends they would stop when you're honest about your pain. Healthy relationships, especially romantic ones, are build on trust and communication. It is not good to always just give and give, especially in a romantic relationship. So if you want anything healthy with this friend, in my opinion, maybe sharing about your stress would be good. This friend doesn't need to have an answer, they can listen and that you just want them to know what you are going through.
Your pain and your struggle are not weakness. It is the choices people make in life that shows who they are. You are definitely not selfish. You should share more of your struggles.
I too keep living because I do not want my family to be sad. If that is what keeps you here, then use it to build more reasons to stay. I think I can understand you because I am quite like you. I often like to tough it out, act strong, and do whatever I can myself. I look so put together that people don't know I am crumbling inside. I dare not speak a word of my internal struggle because speaking will erupt a volcano of tears.
I wish you well and that living situation improve.