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Pid is right about the environment propagating pessimism. But should you lie to yourself about that? Can you even? Will the lie last? Nah. Rather, find something to improve it even if it is just one little thing. Also, I think some people are pessimistic by personality. And personality is somewhat fixed by your age. But Pid is right that environment plays a part in depression and one wants to be on the lookout for that.

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The problem is that depressiveness is not a personality. You could be reserved or taciturn, but that's different than being depressive. I repeat: being depressive/pessimistic is not a personality. It is, rather, a cognitive pattern.

The lying can't be helped. Most people who say they have horrible social skills really do have bad social skills. Why? well, you think you're boring so you don't say much, and when you don't say anything then yeah, you're pretty boring. This cycle keeps going on and on and reinforces itself with time. So, unfortunately, it probably is a fact. The only way to get out of it is to lie to yourself. When you think you're interesting, you'll talk more and become gradually more interesting. This also boosts and reinforces itself until you've gotten a strong confidence in your social skills.

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Well, about that self-esteem. It'd be nice if I knew why it's so low. I don't really know. I think I must have screwed up something really badly a long time ago but I can't remember what it was. Either way, it pretty much polished off my confidence, apparently.

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My guess is that when you were a little child, you had too many restrictions and regulations to abide. When many things you do are regarded as bad by your parents, especially if they proceed to punish you, that will hinder your self-esteem in the future. You will be afraid to try new things because you're afraid other people will perceive it as "bad", since you expect other people to react the same way as your parents. This happens if you have parents who are too strict.



I think I should lay off that psychology book for a while.

Well, the DSM-IV lists dysthymia as a depressive disorder, if I remember correctly, but I guess it could be argued as a personality. It's really mostly a matter of perception of the outside world, though. It's heavily influenced by neurotransmitters, as you said. I did some research on increasing serotonin levels (to alleviate depressiveness), and it says that carbohydrate consumption raises serotonin levels. However, protein inhibits the production of serotonin. But you can't possibly NOT have protein--it's simply too unhealthy. So, what I do now is, I try to have carbohydrates for breakfast just to get through the toughest part of the day -- school -- then eat what I want for lunch and dinner. You could try it, I guess, and see how it works for you.

And Scorp, when you say that you "probably did something and messed it up", how would you know if you messed up? The negative responses from other people, I'd think. Usually it's from strict parenting, but there are many other factors including responses from friends and teachers, for instance.

It's either that or you're weighted down by many conditions of worth, and you feel like you have to live up to others' "expectations". Then you start trying to become someone you're not, instead of trying to do the best you can and be satisified with it. Then, you get the feeling that you're inadequate. In this case, you would need to diagnose things more rationally. Are other people's expectations of you rational, or are they too imposing? If they're too farfetched, it's not you, but other people's expectations that are the problems. Ditch all unreasonable expectations. Just be the best that you can be, and actualize yourself. Just distinguish between rational and irrational expectations.