How do I stop feeling like I'm broken and need to be fixed?

Feeling like you're broken and need to be fixed is a painful belief that often develops from Psychological trauma, repeated criticism, or mental health struggles that make you feel fundamentally flawed or damaged. This feeling might stem from childhood experiences of abuse, neglect, or consistent messages that something was wrong with you, creating a deep sense that you're defective in ways that need to be repaired. You might feel like your emotions are too intense, your reactions are inappropriate, your thoughts are wrong, or your way of being in the world is somehow problematic. Sometimes this feeling comes from mental health conditions like Major depressive disorder, Anxiety disorder, or Post-traumatic Psychological stress disorder that can make you feel like you're malfunctioning compared to others who seem to navigate life more easily. You might interpret your struggles as evidence that you're broken rather than recognizing them as normal responses to difficult experiences or as treatable conditions that many people face. The language of being 'broken' and needing to be 'fixed' implies that there's a correct way to be human and that you're failing to meet that standard. However, this perspective ignores the reality that everyone has struggles, wounds, and areas where they're still growing. Your difficulties don't make you defective - they make you human. Psychological trauma responses, emotional sensitivity, Anxiety disorder, or other challenges often develop as protective mechanisms that helped you survive difficult circumstances, even if they're no longer serving you well. Rather than seeing these patterns as evidence that you're broken, consider them as adaptations that made sense given your experiences. emotional healing isn't about fixing what's wrong with you - it's about understanding your experiences, developing new coping skills, and learning to treat yourself with compassion. The goal isn't to become perfect or to eliminate all struggles, but to develop a healthier relationship with yourself and to find ways of living that feel more authentic and fulfilling. Working with a therapist can help you process the experiences that led to feeling broken and develop a more compassionate understanding of yourself. Remember that seeking help isn't evidence that you're broken - it's evidence that you're taking care of yourself and working toward personal development and healing.