How do you recover your love for life?

Question

Over the past few years or longer, I've been experiencing a 'deadening' of emotions, until I started wondering if I felt anything at all. I used to be sure I was regularly depressed, but now I can't tell anymore. I'm 17 years old, and I can hardly relate to the supposed headiness of youth, socially, mentally, or sexually (I'm asexual). Sometimes it seems as if I'm rejecting everything in my life, and consequently I've started to feel as if there's nothing to live for.

Guys, please help me out here. The last time I felt something like this, I meant to kill a bully and had no qualms about seriously considering it, since I essentially felt nothing at all - no guilt nor remorse nor even actual rage at the person - and I DON'T want to return to that state of mind. If anyone could offer an explanation of why this is happening, or identify it as a treatable psychological condition or anything at all, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Answer 1

Bad days - everyone has them, so you go for a walk and you turn it around. It's more the intensity that you can control because somethings in life were meant to depress us so it's a matter of how long we're depressed. and then here are some things that you can take some control over how you feel by using some of the strategies listed below: 1. Learn some ways to relax and incorporate them into your daily routine. Even if too much stress and tension aren't the cause of your depression (although they very well might be), they certainly aggravate it. 2. Identify things that are pleasant for you and plan them into your schedule. Research suggests that depressed people have a lack of pleasurable events in their lives and that they actually avoid things that give them pleasure. 3. Increase your activity level. Unfortunately, depressed individuals don't have much energy for exercise, so they tend to remain inactive. Low activity level serves to increase depressed feelings, which then inhibits activity further. To break this cycle, schedule daily exercise that is appropriate for your lifestyle and conditioning level. Take a walk, it's not how fast you walk, it's just the movement - the act of doing it. Remember the turtle and the rabbit. The turtle won the race because he kept on moving at a slow comfortable pace. It's the fact that he finished the race that's important. 4. Identify self-ctitical thoughts and switch to self-rewarding thinking. In other words, get off your back. It is easy to make yourself depressed by being overly harsh and critical. 5. Analyze your social behavior. Many depressed people are lonely and isolated. By learning new social skills and assertive communication, you can often get needed support . 6. Children might avoid the need for presciption antidepressents and if the one of the parents are depressed, getting the parent help can prevent the child from becoming depressed. 7. Listen to soft soothing relaxing music or something with lots of rhythm. Music is to the spirit of mankind like a bandaid is to a cut. 8. Learn way to control your anger ie: a hobby such as karate, tae kwan do, tia chi, yoga, mrditation or anger management classes. 9. Learn to meditate. Two minutes, 10 minutes and 20 minutes. 10. Research shows that depressed people tend to be deficient in mostly B vitamins. Take a B vitamin complex and 5000 mcg of sublingual vitamin B12. (See vitamin therapy in my list) 11. Drink lots of water add a few drops of apple juice or grape juice to the water to give it a sparkle. Research shows that even a little dehydration can cause us to be depressed. There is a better way!

Answer 2

If you were depressed for a long time and now you feel as though you have no emotions, then it seems your body's response to prolonged depression was emotional numbness, which probably feels a little better. That could be a subconscious thing which could be reversed with some techniques you can learn through studying yoga (not just the stretching, but the theory) The act of "Mindfulness" which is a way of focusing your attention on the little details of everything and fully experiencing them, might help you to reopen those closed emotional pathways... this would be good to do along with therapy from a professional because your current state is nothing to sneeze at. It can be very dangerous to continue along your current path.

ALSO, it could be psysiological. Your prolonged period of depression leading to emotional numbness might have been your awareness of your body becoming less and less effective at producing Seratonin (the happy hormone to put it simply). You would need to get blood work done to determine this. If your seratonin levels are low, then you could try meds to raise those levels, which should help. The meds will be anti-depressant meds, and you will feel at least a little better on them, but you will still need to address the underlying cause of your depression in therapy. Low Seratonin levels are usually a symptom of depression, not the cause. But they will take away "the joy in life" so there is hope you can get it back!!! Your self-awareness is excellent, and that will make a big difference in the effectiveness of your therapy.

If you do not want to tell your parents everything, just tell them you feel like you cannot talk to them and want to see a psychologist. Then tell the psychologist everything. Even with minors it is still confidential. They won't tell mom or dad anything you do not want them to.

Answer 3

You are right to examine your feelings, and you are right to notice when you feel out of control. The best thing is that you are examining and questioning yourself and want to trust again.

I highly suggest you find a professional whether therapist, counselor, priest/minister or other person who has the qualifications to help you. We of course, can't. Not that we don't want to, we are not professionals, and only professionals can suggest a diagnosis.

I think it would be good to seek help. Then pick a physical thing to do when you need to think such as long walks, run, jog, swim, or call a friend. Keep thinking, and you have stopped yourself from acting on what you know in your heart is wrong.

I believe you are just growing, and now beginning, yup, beginning
to mature..............and that's a good thing.

17 is difficult but not impossible but for your own continued health there are tons of people who'd be flattered to know that you ask for help. Again, you're not acting on your bad thoughts, and you see them as making you numb....see how you're
evaluating your thoughts.....very good.

If you get balance back into your life with other's help, you will make your life better, then the best that can happen is that JOY will come back into your life.
First - balance............and remember we get buy with a little help from our friends.
Best of luck to you in your continued growth!

Answer 4

It is not your fault that you feel this way. It could be a chemical imbalance or something from your past that you don't know how to deal with. Try talking to your school counselor. If you don't feel comfortable, make an appointment with your regular family doctor. You don't have to tell your parents the truth about why your going if you think they won't understand. Once you have explained everything, let the doctor explain to them what is going on with you. Get help as soon as you can before this causes serious problems in your life. It could be as simple as seeing a therapist or taking medication. No matter what anyone tells you, this is not your fault.

Answer 5

The problem with you or any one in your condition is that you find nothing is exciting enough.adventure when succumbed to once needs a still higher notch to feel satisfied.Its we can call "nothing is good enough "condition.no hope for future,nothing significant in the past to remember.Please take charge of your life.make a positive difference in some ones life,see what it can do to your own life.....

Answer 6

yeah, you need professional help, i was the same as a teen. you are very depressed and psychotic thinking is going on too (considering killing someone) there are medications for depression and psychosis please seek the help of a psychiatrist. you are not alone in feeling like this. the difference is how you choose to deal with it. dont end up being the kid that brings a gun to school and kills a bunch of kids.

Answer 7

Get treatmen for you depression. You can feel a lot better than you do when you are not depressed. Meds and therapy.

Answer 8

Start reading your Bible and going to Church again. Helped pull me out of my depression

Answer 9

Nobody here can tell you why you are feeling this way. Tell your parents or health care provider.

Answer 10

it is very hard ,,but you have to work on it slowly,,,go to dinner,,movies,,,etc