Existential despair?

Question

I used to be intelligent and aware, back before I went crazy and lost everything. Now I can't think, I can't feel. I just got married and I have a life but I feel as though I am just cruising through life. I want to reach out and grab hold of some peace and happiness.

I asked my shrink for a diagnosis. She replied 'existential despair'. She tells me that I my mind is shutting down and that is why I can't think. I feel out of control as I never made that decision. I have been through so much and I have a life that should make me happy but I feel so unfulfilled and alone. I want to learn and understand, I want to open my mind but I am caught between the monotony and superficial nature of my day to day life and the pretense that I am happy, the facade that everyone else sees and the darkness in my mind.

It all comes down to a simple question... What the hell do I do now?

Answer 1

Well.... I think that we allow day to day things fill our minds, and the mind stops being stimulated. I myself have felt exactly the same feelings you are feeling right now. I was not learning anything new and had nothing that truly interested me. Sometimes learning something new, i personally have found that i need to constantly need to be learning new concepts for me to feel connected to the world. I got to a point that life just seemed on a path to nowhere. I startedand reading more, taking a class or two here and there helped me. I know that this worked for me and i felt connected to life, instead of it passing me by. I don't know if this will work for you but it truly helped me feel i was part of the world, instead of living in the "happy" world that i created.

Answer 2

So sorry, I often feel the same way. But my life started out bad and, as far as I have accomplished, hasn't changed much.

But I have learned a lot, starting my quest for peace a long time ago, and that gives me the hope to continue.

Often this type of misery has a hidden cause, for example, your chemistry may be off due to dehydration, unnatural sleep patterns, lack of daylight, electrical overexposure (like from computers or wireless systems), improper diet, or harsh emotions from people in your environment, mold or toxin exposure, to name a few possibilities.

Getting a diagnosis does little for you if it is as vague as the one you are referring to. But I don't believe in chemical cures either.

Learn to meditate. A yoga class can help to adjust your mind and body, as well as introduce you to some beautiful people.

A great book on all aspects of healthy living is Paul Pitchford's Healing with Whole Foods.

Spring is advancing, the extra sunlight will help, especially if you get it at sunrise. Walking is also crucial for maintaining health.

Massage and accupuncture will also dramatically help, and they don't require any real effort, so that may be a good place to start.

Once you feel better, your mind will begin to create new possibilities and you will lose the "existential" aspect of your despair, and you can begin to work towards a life of greater substance.

Thank you for sharing, I hope you feel better soon.

Peace.

Answer 3

I think I have something similar.....I do not think I can add more to anything that has been said already, but with the exception of a saying I use rather often here, the Will is positive, the Judgment is negative. Those are two parts of my self I think about when thinking about human life in general. Our Will is positive and is founded on all positive of Spirit or emotions. Our Judgment is negative and the Spiritual constituents for Judgment is aimed at negating or making nothing of something, even if only a negative wish. Our Will puts in our consciousness from memories we gather, but the Judgment does not posit or put for ideas, or subjects or objects to seek nor the nature for those desires. Judgment is not desire nor is it pleasure, but both the Will and the Judgment have their emotions and their satisfactions. In the light of happiness, is it not true that the Judgment judges its self and then the Will is free. You need to free your Will and aim your Judgment at its self.

Of course detoxifying your body through exercises and sweat is good too.

http://www.gwfhegel.org/

G.W.F. Hegel
Hegel's
SCIENCE OF PHILOSOPHY
HOME OF THE SWEET ABSOLUTE
"Thus the life of God and divine cognition may well be spoken of as a disporting of Love with itself; but this idea sinks into mere edification, and even insipidity, if it lacks the seriousness, the suffering, the patience, and the labor of the negative." G.W.F. Hegel

Answer 4

Be aware that only you control your moods. While they can be chemically altered, you are the final arbiter. In short you are and have always been in control of what you allow to affect you. Find something that interests you. Review books, take up astronomy, work math problems, work crossword puzzles or Suduko. Anything that gives you a sense of accomplishment and reward.

Answer 5

Do something that is for you, you and you only. Your mind needs a break from the everyday life. Maybe volunteer for an organization that works on something your really passionate about (Search and Rescue, Red Cross, kids orgs.) It will make your days brighter and maybe bring some hope into your heart. good luck

Answer 6

You need to slow things down. Stop looking for happiness, when it's sitting right in front of you. Babe, I hate to tell you this, but you're married. You made a lifelong commitment and your spouse is there for you. It's not a bad thing to confide in him, tell him your feelings, and try to find help in sorting them out. It's not good to keep everything inside, and pretend that you're okay. You'll only end up falling that much harder when it all comes down.

Answer 7

Get some balance in your life. Some exercise would be good

Hang in there with the therapy.

Answer 8

just let go of everything...
you thought you knew...
its all an illusion anyway...
be happy your no longer conditioned by our valueless culture...