[–] 20630173? 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
If you're searching for happiness, but can't define exactly what will make you happy, stop searching. It may be right under your nose but you won't recognize it.
When searching for happiness, look inward. When you find happiness within yourself, independent of all others, you'll own it. No one can take it away from you, ever.
Tend to your own needs first. Ignore things that cause frustration, anger, and pain. Find a hobby. Do things you used to do that made you feel good. Express yourself with art, drawing, painting, or music. There are tons of tutorials on YouTube and they're all free.
Don't wait for others to bring happiness back into your life. Only you can do what needs to be done. Own it, forever. Depression is about the past, anxiety is about the future. Live in the now. Find one little thing each day that makes you smile. YouTube is full of meaningless videos that'll make you laugh.
Letting go of the past isn't about forgetting the past, it's about changing the way you think and feel about the past, and only you can change the way you think and feel. Anxiety about the future is a wasted emotion, wasted energy, and wasted time. You can't predict the future, it will never happen exactly as you imagine it, so live in the now, let the future come to you, and deal with it when it arrives.
I'm not a trained therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. I'm a survivor. I struggled with depression for most of my life. It started gradually. Depression sneaks up on you slowly until it totally destroys your life. Don't expect it to go away overnight. It takes a while, but it can be done. I know because I did it.
Fifteen years ago I was consumed with thoughts of suicide. I had lost the will to live. I was depressed because I was poor and alone. Women aren't interested in men who are poor. I predicted my future as being poor, marginally employed if at all, and alone for the rest of my life. Then I began to change the way I thought and felt about those things, and it worked.
I'm still poor, but I'm making ends meet. I'm still single, but I don't have anyone looking over my shoulder, second guessing every decision I make. I've been single long enough that I don't know if I would even get any good sleep if sone one else was in my bed. I found happiness within myself, and I own it.
I play my guitars every day, just for the fun of it. I play with a 3D modeling application, Blender, (it's amazing and it's free) and I'm learning to create 3D digital models and video game assets. I don't expect to make a living at it, but it stimulates the gray matter and keeps my mind off of other negative things.
I'm not so happy that I'm bouncing off the walls, but I'm content with who and what I am. You can do the same. Hang in there, find help, don't take psychotropic drugs, they don't work. You'll never find happiness at the bottom of a pill bottle. Don't give up, happiness is waiting for you.
[–] 20630389? 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I pray for you. I am a survivor of early childhood abuse and spousal abuse. I have tried to kill my self many times but for some reason I still had this tiny bit of hope. I don't know where it comes from after all I've been through. My belief now after seeing reality for what it really is I stopped fighting my belief in God. No I didnt give up! It doesnt matter what religion you are if any at all. God is in your heart. It's faith in anything and everything. NEVER GIVE UP! The moment you make that solid statement to give up that is when you fail and end up broken. I am not a holy roller bible thumper, far from it! I learned by seeing where He had carried me through the hardest parts and when I cursed him for making me go through it I got dropped on my face. But I still kept my faith even though i thought I hated God. Everytime I got dropped I got my courage back because I was stubborn and refused to give up. That's when I realized that I didnt get dropped I got a warning. If you give up yourself you give up on EVERYTHING including God (GOOD). The more we feed the beast our dark emotions the more they get ahead. So I stopped my dark thoughts as much possible and I ask for strength everyday to be able to wake up and carry on. It's a battle everyday because I have agoraphobia and ptsd. But I still hold on to that hope and push through all of the BS and I have made it to 44 yrs old... I should have died at 15. Don't give up please! I mean it! I'm sitting here in a complete wreck of my life trying to survive and I'm begging you to not give up! It does get better and I want you to find your own way to believe in yourself because nothing else matters than believing in yourself. You only get back based on what you put in! If you put all dark emotions and thoughts and cursing well thats what youre going to get back. Stop trashing yourself and find a way to love yourself again. Start with one thing and then build from it. Just please don't quit. The world can't get better if we give up. I pray that God will give you strength to carry on and (keep your eyes open) show you the opportunities in plain sight that the darkness kept hidden from you. Be safe and know many of us here love you especially when you feel unloved.
[–] 20630925? 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago (edited ago)
Praying for you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻. Know that you are precious in God’s eye. Don’t give in to despair. You may become despondent, but keep HOPE in your mind. God has a plan for you ! I’ve been there... sick , depressed, in pain, feeling alone, unable to work. Cling to God, your Father, Ask Him to show you His love. (It’ll come in the way of a smile, a sunset, a lovely breeze...it’ll be something gentle that tugs at your heart.)
Go for walks, get some sun. Eat healthy...some. treats now and then....NO BOOZE. It is is a depressant and is TERRIBLE for us who suffer from depression. It is a FAKE. It steals from you as it is a temporary fix.
As far as SSRI’s, I’ve tried em all. Temporary fix- with weight gain.
Have you tried St. John’s Wort? It is a natural antidepressant. Helping me a lot, I can tell you brand I like ( no nausea ).
Wish I could speak to you. Trust that you will be in my prayers.
[–] [deleted] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
[–] 20631677? 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Agreed. I thought I was the only person that thought this. Problem is there's almost nowhere else to get the information that's here.