What's your reason for living?

Question

I am depressed(diagnosed with chronic depression whith major depressive episodes). I have been since I was 12, and while most of the time I don't want to die, I don't really want to live either. I don't see the point; I have no reason to drag myself out of bed other then sheer stubborness. So I'm asking all of you folks, what is it that keeps you going? Maybe it'll help me find my inspiration.

Answer 1

I live for myself and the people I love... Going through most of my life, I never felt love. Oh, I told plenty of people I loved them and of course they said it back. Though I did not feel it, it was like something alien to me... So I fell into a deep depression, barely eating, not talking to anyone, just sort of floating through my life with a glazed look on my face. Then my nephew was born and I ended up having to raise him for a year, myself. I finally felt that love for something other than myself, I loved my nephew so much that it opened the way for me to love others.

Granted, I still don't feel that sort of love from my family but I now love three people. THREE PEOPLE, one of which I am trying to get involved with. So, I suppose I live for love really... As corny as that sounds. I want the chance to be able to love as many people as I can now, within reason. lol

Answer 2

I think the fact that your sheer stubborness is a sign that you have a strong will to live. Sometimes changing the circumstances around you can lift off those feelings of hopelessness. Changing your frame of reference is a good start. You sound like a very strong individual who wants purpose for living. Sometimes it takes a while to find this purpose. You need to find a lightness within yourself and you need to progress forward. I dont know what it would be that you need to change - maybe your job, your current accommodation, friends - getting away from some members of your family who thrive on being negative. Why dont you try doing something that you have never done before - it doesnt have to be expensive but take a risk with something - it is amazing what that does for your self confidence. There is a reason you are here. Dont go weirdly spiritual. You dont need that extreme. When you get that first buzz from the first change keep going from strength to strength. Good luck. God bless.

Answer 3

My children. I owe them, and all the other people who love me, the best I can give them. I am so fortunate.

I also think I'm here to search; to work through life learning, loving, leaving things better than I found them, and hopefully I'll understand things well enough to not be caught unprepared by what awaits me on the day I check out.

There IS a spark inside you somewhere, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. It's your responsibility to grow that spark, to stay open to unexpected directions in which it may take you, and to be really honest with yourself in your decision making. More often than not, helping someone else (without the expectation of repayment) is the best possible thing you can do for your own wounded heart.

You're a human being ... you're an AMAZing creature! And you are never truly alone.

Answer 4

I feel the same way most of the time. I'm unusually happy today for some reason I'm not aware of. But I'm really looking forward to being with my guy. It's something we're trying to work out for the future. He's half a world away from me (literally). But I know we'll be together....so, that keeps me motivated....plus he wouldn't want me to be sad. My art keeps me busy, too. I paint. I always make crazy plans for the future when I get bored...maybe they'll happen, maybe they won't. I just try to keep living and planning to live when I get sad. I know it's easier said than done, but I hope it gets better for you. Good luck.

Answer 5

I try to do every day something new, something I haven't done before. I don't succeed *every* day of course. And most often it's something trivial, like starting a new book or seeing a movie, or a new variation on my usual walk way to work.

Sometimes it's bigger, like learning something new, a new game

Once in a while it's huge, like signing on for Yahoo Answers or learning a new language. There are so many things out there I don't know yet and haven't done yet!

Bon courage, Risa!

Answer 6

Hi there, I might say things you don't' want to hear but I noticed when I stopped thinking of ME....and start putting my eyes on others I see many who need help, who are worse off than me...I extend a hand to help them...something happens when you reach out and help others.....the endorphins in your brain "get happy"....it's like exercising or drinking a glass of pure spring water for your mind...so hard to put in words...even though you have suffered for a long time it doesn't mean you can't change your habits...how you look at the world...and just make up your mind that you are going to rise and shine in the morning...start off eating right...getting enough rest.....keeping yourself clean and neat....and making each day count. We are all here since our parents got together ...right? None of us arrived on our own....so we have to make the best of what life has given us...no one lives in a "bed of roses" and we all get depressed at one time or another....when our daughter died I had a good reason to want to just stop living...but with the help of my doctor and above all the higher power....I was able to join society and live again....I know you can do the same...you just have to take the "first step" and make up your mind you can climb out of depression and "start living".....best wishes to you in your life your future...it's all yours..to take...

Answer 7

well in my religion we beleive that if you were to kill yourself then you'd go to hell. also i would break my mothers heart (although truthfully sometimes i'd rather her moarn my death than be here and not really be HERE) if you know what i mean. but if i didn't believe in Hell i would be dead along time ago. that's all i can say. oh sh*t i should be helping you sorry. okay so ya there is at least one person out there in the world that wants you to live for them and would be so devestated if you died. mabey even devestating enough for them to go into minor depression, or even deep depression.

Answer 8

I enjoy helping others. I am in the process of doing just that. see my profile. I am excited to help those less fortunate than I. and so this is what gets and keeps me going. Volunteering is a great way to get yourself and maintain your feelings of self worth. try it. you might like it.

Answer 9

I've sort of adopted the following as my reason-..... "The purpose of life is to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have it make some difference that we lived at all." (Leo Roston)

I also believe that we are here to learn something from our experiences and to grow from them. I have to believe that to accept the things I've been through.

Answer 10

Hope for the future that someday everything will be made better. It's always darkest before the dawn!