Insecurities are triggered by jealousy
I'm ashamed to talk to my husband or friends about this.
Feel free to tell me to JUST GET OVER IT!
-- Insecure
Dear Insecure: GET OVER IT!
There, feel better?
I suspect that a perfectly natural "mid-life crisis" has collided with, or been triggered by, this random reminder of someone who brings out the worst in you.
Most of us have someone on the periphery of our lives who irrationally solicits strong feelings of jealousy or schadenfreude.
Social media can more or less "weaponize" these glancing encounters, because of the filtered way some people present their story.
Yes -- talk to your most empathetic friend about it. You might feel embarrassed, but you shouldn't feel ashamed. Own this. Admit it. Get it out.
Other adults who love you will affirm your good choices and listen as you start to unravel the mystery of what you should do next. And yes, therapy would help; if you live near a university, check with their psychology department to see if you might be able to see someone for a few sessions for less money.
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