Your struggle doesn’t have to be worse than someone else’s in order for it to be valid.
A lot of times we stop ourselves from feeling what we're feeling because we don't think we should be "allowed" to feel that way. We feel guilty for our emotions because "it shouldn't be a big deal," or "somebody else has it worse." Gratitude and perspective certainly have a place in helping us see our issues in the bigger picture, but never invalidate your feelings because somebody else makes you feel like they are not worthy. Your own journey and own challenges are valid and should be respected. It is never a competition.
Disclaimer: While occasionally I include research and insights from my graduate classes in clinical psychology on my blog, I am not at this time a licensed therapist or mental health provider and therefore no content on this blog or website should not be considered or serve as replacement for therapeutic advice.
