I locked myself out of my dorm room about a month ago, and I can't seem to stop beating myself up over it. People keep telling me that it happens to everyone, but I'm definitely not seeing it everywhere. None of this would have happened if I had just slowed down for two seconds. I can't shake the feeling that 21-year-olds should know better than this. ~Alyssa
Thank you for approaching Mental Health Advice when you are upset, i hope i can help you out today.
I think it is important for me to remind you that you are human. Not a robot. Therefore mistakes happen.
It sounds like you are being so harsh on yourself, beating yourself up, wagging the finger, no wonder you can not shake the feeling. You seem very critical and not giving yourself a break. So i want to help you be nice to yourself - (click here)
I would like you to try a little exercise... i want you to imagine a friend telling you that she had locked herself out, or anything else you are currently beating yourself up over and talk aloud to that image - what would you say to her? What would you want her to think about herself?
I bet you share kind words to that image - surely you want that for yourself?! Now you need to practice this, tell yourself what you would say to a friend.
I have practiced this myself and frequently return to this exercise when i am being nasty and harsh to myself, i am my own worst critic and enemy at times. I imagine myself talking to a child (i dont have children but imagine it is my daughter)
I think you should spend sometime focus on yourself, practice self care (i’ve added a link for some ideas) and stop beating yourself up as life is hard enough with enough harsh people without living with one yourself!!
Your 21, mistakes happen, they happen so you can learn and grow from them. When your mind is racing, it is easy to overlook the simple tasks and just taking a moment for yourself to breathe and collect your thoughts you will learn in time to conquer these thoughts. It is difficult and you can not be perfect all the time - no one is!!!
Please be kind to yourself!