Is anybody really happy?

[JonJon]

I think I've forgotten what happiness feels like. I used to be the overly-optimistic guy that always smiled no matter what with dreams of promises and even better days ahead. Those days are long gone and seem so far away.

Now, I don't even know what it's like to be really happy anymore. I mean, I can put on a good show with the best of them, but I'm just lying to myself and everyone else. My smile is now forced and my nights are spent awake wondering if my pain will ever end and if I will ever be happy again. I doubt it though. I see no solution for what troubles me. Your heart can only take so much before it gives up, and I'm just about to that point. It's rough...really rough...and sad. Maybe theres someone out there that can give me hope. Tell me you've found happiness and maybe "I can convince myself to hope for the same thing. Go ahead and bring out the violins if you want, but I am serious. I think I am near the end of my ropes.

 

[Achozen]

Stay away from gyms.

 

[theogt]

Can't really help you if we don't know much about your life. I'd say with certainty, though, that whatever is bothering you, absent health problems, you can very likely change your situation.

Grill yourself a steak, drink a beer, and eat some raw cookie dough fro dessert. Should solve most problems.

 

[peplaw06]

Everyone around me seems to be feeling the same way. It's like there's something in the air.

All anyone hears anymore is negativity... from the media first and foremost. It can take its toll. I'm generally a very positive person and last fall I got about as low as I ever have. It lasted a couple weeks.

When I started thinking that I might be at the beginning stages of some sort of depression it was weird, because I've never been there before. Basically I had to tell myself, "you're too strong for this."

It may sound simple, but it's all about the outlook you CHOOSE to have. Now the problems don't get me as down, like it used to be. I deal with em and move on, accentuate the positive. If you start saying "woe is me" enough, it will consume you.

If you believe depression is a disease, it's a disease of the mind.

 

[Jon88]

I was there for years. You just have to keep going. My life sucked from 14 - 26. But things are looking up. I graduated college and am about to start a career. Getting a degree was a big weight off my shoulders. It was really bad not last August but the one before that. I hated waking up every morning. So I've been there. You just have to ride out the storm.

 

[Jon88]

Everyone around me seems to be feeling the same way. It's like there's something in the air.

All anyone hears anymore is negativity... from the media first and foremost. It can take its toll. I'm generally a very positive person and last fall I got about as low as I ever have. It lasted a couple weeks.

When I started thinking that I might be at the beginning stages of some sort of depression it was weird, because I've never been there before. Basically I had to tell myself, "you're too strong for this."

It may sound simple, but it's all about the outlook you CHOOSE to have. Now the problems don't get me as down, like it used to be. I deal with em and move on, accentuate the positive. If you start saying "woe is me" enough, it will consume you.

If you believe depression is a disease, it's a disease of the mind.

There's clinical depression (which is definitely a disease) and then there's depression from being sad about something.

 

[suspenceman]

I was there about 2 years ago, sometimes I wonder why I didn't end my life. I was just upset with everything about life and had no real direction. For me, it may not be applicable to you, but for me I joined the Marine Corps and it got my mind off of it for a long time, and then I had a goal or....a real thing to do in my life.

I'd love to talk man, you're prolly alot older than me. I'm only 22, but I've studied some counseling and things of the like in school.

Basically man, find something that you want to do. Volunteer and see people less fortunate than you. But really, I think you should seek help from a professional counselor. They can help, my mom has seen one because she suffers from a lot of fear in her life.

As silly as it sounds, this little message board is here for you man. Stay strong, pray, and eat some soul food. haha

 

[bbgun]

Everyone around me seems to be feeling the same way. It's like there's something in the air.

All anyone hears anymore is negativity... from the media first and foremost. It can take its toll. I'm generally a very positive person and last fall I got about as low as I ever have. It lasted a couple weeks.

When I started thinking that I might be at the beginning stages of some sort of depression it was weird, because I've never been there before. Basically I had to tell myself, "you're too strong for this."

It may sound simple, but it's all about the outlook you CHOOSE to have. Now the problems don't get me as down, like it used to be. I deal with em and move on, accentuate the positive. If you start saying "woe is me" enough, it will consume you.

If you believe depression is a disease, it's a disease of the mind.

27 million Americans are on anti-depressants. Something tells me only a fraction of them need to be.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Seriously, go see a doctor. I'm not talking medical either.

 

[Jon88]

Seriously, go see a doctor. I'm not talking medical either.

He can see either kind and they can help.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Stay away from gyms.

Way to cheer him up!

:money: :beer1: :hammock: :busty:

 

[CowboyWay]

Seriously, go see a doctor. .

It might sound strange to take advice from an internet message board, but I have to concur. Have yourself checked out. There is nothing wrong with it, and they can most likely really help you.

The good news is, you know there is a problem. Now its up to you to get it fixed. Don't wait either. Make an appointment and get some feedback on it. You really, really, really will be glad you did.

Don't wait, Do it today.

 

[peplaw06]

27 million Americans are on anti-depressants. Something tells me only a fraction of them need to be.

 

[Aikbach]

I think I've forgotten what happiness feels like. I used to be the overly-optimistic guy that always smiled no matter what with dreams of promises and even better days ahead. Those days are long gone and seem so far away.

Now, I don't even know what it's like to be really happy anymore. I mean, I can put on a good show with the best of them, but I'm just lying to myself and everyone else. My smile is now forced and my nights are spent awake wondering if my pain will ever end and if I will ever be happy again. I doubt it though. I see no solution for what troubles me. Your heart can only take so much before it gives up, and I'm just about to that point. It's rough...really rough...and sad. Maybe theres someone out there that can give me hope. Tell me you've found happiness and maybe "I can convince myself to hope for the same thing. Go ahead and bring out the violins if you want, but I am serious. I think I am near the end of my ropes.

What is it that you have been placing your hopes in? It sounds like it/ they has/ have let you down.

Perhaps now is the time for introspective thought on what you desire and why you want it, what will it fulfill or will it be just another unfulfilling end once obtained?

 

[MetalHead]

Come see me.

 

[DemonBlood]

You might have DP/DR or just depression. Ugh, I hate DP.

 

[Mavs Man]

I was there about five years ago. It seemed like so much of my life was not what I wanted, or where I wanted to be. So I wrote down everything in my life that I was unhappy with, and what I needed to work on. A list of where I was on one side, and where I wanted to be on the other. And then I got to work on changing it.

It's a work in progress, but within a year I had made huge strides, by working on those areas a little at a time.

I think that for a lot of people depression is a chemical thing, something that can only be corrected by medicine. But for many, many people, depression is tied to something real, something tangible, that is lacking in their lives. Which means if you can figure out how to fix the tangible thing, you can treat the depression.

One of the most powerful things in life is realizing that you do have a choice, in everything you do. You can't choose everything, and you can't change everything, but you do have control, however little it may be.

It's a shame that we live in a world surrounded by highlights. You can watch whole games in two minutes on Sportscenter, whole careers of great athletes in less than ten minutes of highlights. We have Cliff's notes for books, bullets points for business presentations and college classes, executive summaries, annual reports.

But life is not made of highlights. Most of life is made of routine, boring parts. But it's the work and effort and striving and perseverance that make those highlights of life possible, and worth every second of what you put into it to make it possible. So while it might not be great now, this is the time to work to make things better, and appreciate it when it does come.

And while I'm not sure what exactly it is that troubles you, surround yourself with things that you know will cheer you up. Watch inspirational movies. Put in Rudy or the Shawshank Redemption or Field of Dreams. Don't give up.

 

[theogt]

 

[DemonBlood]

I was there about five years ago. It seemed like so much of my life was not what I wanted, or where I wanted to be. So I wrote down everything in my life that I was unhappy with, and what I needed to work on. A list of where I was on one side, and where I wanted to be on the other. And then I got to work on changing it.

It's a work in progress, but within a year I had made huge strides, by working on those areas a little at a time.

I think that for a lot of people depression is a chemical thing, something that can only be corrected by medicine. But for many, many people, depression is tied to something real, something tangible, that is lacking in their lives. Which means if you can figure out how to fix the tangible thing, you can treat the depression.

One of the most powerful things in life is realizing that you do have a choice, in everything you do. You can't choose everything, and you can't change everything, but you do have control, however little it may be.

It's a shame that we live in a world surrounded by highlights. You can watch whole games in two minutes on Sportscenter, whole careers of great athletes in less than ten minutes of highlights. We have Cliff's notes for books, bullets points for business presentations and college classes, executive summaries, annual reports.

But life is not made of highlights. Most of life is made of routine, boring parts. But it's the work and effort and striving and perseverance that make those highlights of life possible, and worth every second of what you put into it to make it possible. So while it might not be great now, this is the time to work to make things better, and appreciate it when it does come.

And while I'm not sure what exactly it is that troubles you, surround yourself with things that you know will cheer you up. Watch inspirational movies. Put in Rudy or the Shawshank Redemption or Field of Dreams. Don't give up.

Great, great post man.

 

[Hostile]

I honestly am a very happy person. I wasn't always though. In fact my journey to being happy began with me holding a gun to my head when I was 11.

I don't know what to share with you though that could help you and not break the forum Guidelines. PM me if you are curious I guess.