What is your overcompensation for misery? [PIC HEAVY]
BathtubBadger
Posts: 217 Member
in Chit-Chat
I've had this quote on my profile for a few weeks:
It seemed fitting. Now I am not so sure. I started to question why I was unhappy when I have everything. I am not terribly overweight, here's a pic of my 'befores' (which I can gladly look at and see so many improvements already). I am the definition of a pear shape. And I became more and more of a pear as my life sank because of depression.
Here's a pic of before my befores. I used to be the hot kid, popular in high school, practiced sports, excelled with my grades, graduated with honors. I was a high school senior at the age of 15. Don't take me as a snob. I'm saying all this because I feel it's important to stress: I have been overthrown by my own life decisions, turned mediocre, sank in depression and became an addict.
The reason for that? Law school. I won't go into that because I feel like it's subject for a new funny (and terribly tragic) post. I'll sum it up as: I hate everything to do with law.
Oh the joy. A grand career. So much STATUS. Nope. Nope. Big fat nope.
Then I am here now. I am twenty-one. As I took the wheel and changed majors (now I'm studying engineering), I also started to question other things in my life I am not satisfied with. So I started losing weight, got my grades up, maintain a job and an internship. There is still one thing I haven't been able to control: my addiction.
What do you buy? Why do you buy?
I came to a sudden (and saddening) realization this week. I am a consumer, and I do not have full control over it. I buy cosmetics because I am not fully satisfied with my appearance. I follow a couple beauty blogs and every new product is a 'must have': doesn't matter if I already have two or three foundations, five or six red lipsticks. I just "need" more.
"But awwww, I feel so pretty in Ruby Woo!"
You embrace flaws and compensate by hiding it: pulling the towel to another side. But it's a short towel, and the more you try to cover your stomach, more of your butt you'll expose. I am not unhappy because I'm overweight. I'm overweight because I'm unhappy. Likewise, I am not unhappy because of my addiction: I am addicted because I am unhappy.
The trigger for my sudden realization was this:
It's a serious thing! Vanity. I am vain. I bought all these products just because the packaging is pretty. Am I telling myself that I just want to have a pretty packaging as well?
"I don't know why, but I think it's not working."
Hell, I can't even read the instructions:
"I think I have to put it on my face? Yep. That seems correct."
Makes you 'relax' about things you shouldn't. I read this 'The Oatmeal' comic yesterday here on the forums. I saw this specific pannel that I felt like many people here would be able to relate to:
What are you running from?
What is your overcompensation for misery?
It seemed fitting. Now I am not so sure. I started to question why I was unhappy when I have everything. I am not terribly overweight, here's a pic of my 'befores' (which I can gladly look at and see so many improvements already). I am the definition of a pear shape. And I became more and more of a pear as my life sank because of depression.
Here's a pic of before my befores. I used to be the hot kid, popular in high school, practiced sports, excelled with my grades, graduated with honors. I was a high school senior at the age of 15. Don't take me as a snob. I'm saying all this because I feel it's important to stress: I have been overthrown by my own life decisions, turned mediocre, sank in depression and became an addict.
The reason for that? Law school. I won't go into that because I feel like it's subject for a new funny (and terribly tragic) post. I'll sum it up as: I hate everything to do with law.
Oh the joy. A grand career. So much STATUS. Nope. Nope. Big fat nope.
Then I am here now. I am twenty-one. As I took the wheel and changed majors (now I'm studying engineering), I also started to question other things in my life I am not satisfied with. So I started losing weight, got my grades up, maintain a job and an internship. There is still one thing I haven't been able to control: my addiction.
What do you buy? Why do you buy?
I came to a sudden (and saddening) realization this week. I am a consumer, and I do not have full control over it. I buy cosmetics because I am not fully satisfied with my appearance. I follow a couple beauty blogs and every new product is a 'must have': doesn't matter if I already have two or three foundations, five or six red lipsticks. I just "need" more.
"But awwww, I feel so pretty in Ruby Woo!"
You embrace flaws and compensate by hiding it: pulling the towel to another side. But it's a short towel, and the more you try to cover your stomach, more of your butt you'll expose. I am not unhappy because I'm overweight. I'm overweight because I'm unhappy. Likewise, I am not unhappy because of my addiction: I am addicted because I am unhappy.
The trigger for my sudden realization was this:
It's a serious thing! Vanity. I am vain. I bought all these products just because the packaging is pretty. Am I telling myself that I just want to have a pretty packaging as well?
"I don't know why, but I think it's not working."
Hell, I can't even read the instructions:
"I think I have to put it on my face? Yep. That seems correct."
Makes you 'relax' about things you shouldn't. I read this 'The Oatmeal' comic yesterday here on the forums. I saw this specific pannel that I felt like many people here would be able to relate to:
What are you running from?
What is your overcompensation for misery?
0
Replies
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What is your overcompensation for misery?
Pie.0 -
What is your overcompensation for misery?
Pie.
What sort of pie?0 -
What is your overcompensation for misery?
Pie.
What sort of pie?
that's a silly question.
all pie.0 -
All pie is good pie. Sweet or savoury.
Miserable? Take things, place in pastry, devour. Bask in the happiness.0 -
What is your overcompensation for misery?
Pie.
What sort of pie?
that's a silly question.
all pie.
Cream pie.0 -
Misery? What is that? I never feel miserable.
Ever.0 -
Misery? What is that? I never feel miserable.
Ever.
0 -
What is your overcompensation for misery?
Pie.
What sort of pie?
that's a silly question.
all pie.
Cream pie.
You win at the internet.0 -
ok. here's my response to the OP.
1) tl;dr
2) when life gives me lemons, i just remember back to HS football.
(who am i kidding? i'd be lucky if life just gave me lemons. what life actually does to me is chase me down the street, trip me, go all Freddy Krueger on me, and then squeeze lemon juice into those fresh wounds!)
3) tl;dr0 -
C'mon. I even sectioned it in paragraphs with colorful pictures to make it a pleasant read. Damn you, Burro.0
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C'mon. I even sectioned it in paragraphs with colorful pictures to make it a pleasant read. Damn you, Burro.
i'm colorblind.0 -
ETA: Op is pretty, and I liked your post.
0 -
ETA: Op is pretty, and I liked your post.
:flowerforyou: 0 -
Good post! I get obsessed with a new hobby when my life is falling apart. Recently Krav Maga, before that writing, painting, running... it goes on and on. It's my way of hiding until everything works itself out.0
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The beach is mine. I like beach combing and that's where I run when I need to escape. You're not thinking of anything generally while you do it, just scanning the shell piles for familiar shapes and definitely NOT wondering how it came to be that you have a 4 year degree and 4 years of teaching experience but you can't even get McDonald's to call you for a job interview.
And I enjoyed your OP.0 -
Good post! I get obsessed with a new hobby when my life is falling apart. Recently Krav Maga, before that writing, painting, running... it goes on and on. It's my way of hiding until everything works itself out.
Happy that you keep it real and turns it into fun activities, at least :-) Mine is something I need to control. Yours is something you definitely need to embrace.0 -
Strangely enough, I totally get this.
Mine is obviously food.
OP you've got me thinking this morning. Thank you.0 -
I sit around and do nothing.
True story.0 -
Does crywank count?0
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Does crywank count?
Man, ever finished, looked at what you were watching and thought: "what the hell am I doing with my life?"0 -
Strangely enough, I totally get this.
Mine is obviously food.
OP you've got me thinking this morning. Thank you.
You're here and that tells me a lot. You're in control. Be happy
0 -
Does crywank count?
Man, ever finished, looked at what you were watching and thought: "what the hell am I doing with my life?"
Oh yes. Or when you realise you were watching Button Moon. I took a long, hard look at myself in the mirror that afternoon.0 -
Does crywank count?
Man, ever finished, looked at what you were watching and thought: "what the hell am I doing with my life?"
Oh yes. Or when you realise you were watching Button Moon. I took a long, hard look at myself in the mirror that afternoon.
Mine was after an episode of Game of Thrones.0 -
Does crywank count?
Man, ever finished, looked at what you were watching and thought: "what the hell am I doing with my life?"
Oh yes. Or when you realise you were watching Button Moon. I took a long, hard look at myself in the mirror that afternoon.
Mine was after an episode of Game of Thrones.
That's a wide variable though. Did it end on a naked Daenerys embracing dragons or a pile of decapitated corpses?0 -
Make up? What's that?
I don't even think I've brushed my hair in the past 4 days.0 -
I finally learned not to let myself get miserable. I'd say that up until my early thirties I was a wallow in my sadness kind of person. Then I realized that while I was whining about it, life was just passing me by. I don't have a stress free life. I'm a single mom living on a fairly low income. I just finally decided that I'm not going to freak out about everything anymore. I make the decisions that will ultimately bring peace and happiness to my life. It's a conscious decision everyday to be a calm, simple person.
When I do find myself overwhelmed, I jump on a bicycle and ride the *kitten* out of it.
Despite what most people think, 21 is a pretty difficult time in life. You are probably trying to figure out your whole future right now. Don't. Your life will constantly evolve and change. Just go with it and enjoy the ride.0 -
I finally learned not to let myself get miserable. I'd say that up until my early thirties I was a wallow in my sadness kind of person. Then I realized that while I was whining about it, life was just passing me by. I don't have a stress free life. I'm a single mom living on a fairly low income. I just finally decided that I'm not going to freak out about everything anymore. I make the decisions that will ultimately bring peace and happiness to my life. It's a conscious decision everyday to be a calm, simple person.
When I do find myself overwhelmed, I jump on a bicycle and ride the *kitten* out of it.
Despite what most people think, 21 is a pretty difficult time in life. You are probably trying to figure out your whole future right now. Don't. Your life will constantly evolve and change. Just go with it and enjoy the ride.
I can finally overlook and find myself depression-free. :-) I am really really happy with where my life is going. Thanks for your input, I can definitely take a lesson from your words. :flowerforyou:0 -
Amazing post! Me? I analyze everyone else’s stuff! Very effective for not working on my stuff! Hummmmm…..what to do now? I think I will e-mail a friend for an update……you know, about their stuff!0
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whine, cry, yell, get angry at total strangers, make everyone around me miserable.
That's what I do, then go home sit in a dark house for two days and eat everything in sight.
THEN, pick myself up, dust off (shower), and move on with life 0 -
Make up? What's that?
I don't even think I've brushed my hair in the past 4 days.
I was once like you. I miss it ;3;0
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