Hello
I just finished reading Victor Frankl's classic which most of us will have heard of. He was a Holocaust surviver and psychiatrist who noticed that those who survived were not necessarily the physically strongest but those who had something to live for, usually a beloved person.
Those of us with mental illness usually lose our self esteem and feel like a pile of garbage. In reality, we are brave, heroic sufferers far stronger than the average person who have learnt to rise above our pain. This makes us very special people indeed
So how about forgetting self esteem altogether. Its only an opinion we hold of ourselves. Don't compare ourselves with others. Be proud of our suffering recognising it does not have to be a permanent state. Nurturing that attitude mayake it easier to bear.
And finally try and connect with the world outside, even if only the plants in the garden or a pet. Feeling connected with nature Andrew living creatures removes some of the fear of isolation.
If it is our destiny to suffer so be it, but we still have choices and can make ourselves a better person in spite of it.
Hope this makes sense or helps a little.
Isap xx