Im not feeling myself the way i used to please help!!?

Question

I turned 18 last July. I graduated from high school last June and started working a full time job. I would work 5 out of 7 days working 9-5.
Three months ago I started feeling all depressed, whatever I would do, something just doesn't feel right. I feel that my life the world has changed way too much. I dont want to die or commit suicide, but life for me feels kind of empty. Sometimes I dont have any interest in the things I used to do. I am feeling like the time is going way too fast and that my life is passing me by.
I havent been hanging with my friends or going out lately. I would just come home from work, stay at home and sit on the computer or watch TV for hours. I feel like I dont have the time to do anything the way I used to.
Here and there I would get easily annoyed and often I would be paranoid about everything as if something bad is about to happen.
Is this feeling normal at this age?, Am i just going through a phase? Will I ever enjoy life again?? How can I fix this?

...and pls dont tell me to see a doctor or reccommend meds. I want to avoid that.

Answer 1

try reading the Bible...seriously, Jesus can fill a lot of empty spaces in your life

Answer 2

The big factor:
Graduation from high school to full time job - You have made a huge move from one environment into another - You now have had a minimum of 40+ hours reassigned of your week. There is a major life-change relating to the "new stage upon which you have entered - greatly different expectations.
"Adulthood is not what it is cracked up to be."
How it has made you feel:
interest in things I used to do to, don't have interest - Those things you used to do have a major new competitor and they realistically take from those things you used to do.
What you have lost:
usual activities (friends) to different activities (isolation): same answer, plus you moved your body, but you left your soul behind, for the soul has not adopted the major change and it grieves for the loss of what was.
What your heavy concerns are:
Ever enjoy life again? Truly you will. "This Too Shall Pass."
Going through a phase? Very much so, Your soul is weaning from the past, and will join you in the present.
Your quest to fix: (to change)
How can I fix it? It is what it is. When the grieving subsides a little more, then you will decide to substitute isolation with community by associating after-hours and free-time with your friends or new ones. "Work Hard, Play Hard!"{
You will realize that "working hard" entitles you to "play hard."
Give it some time.
EFFECTS OF TRANSITION AND ADAPTABILITY!

Answer 3

Dude you are 18 and believe it not you are still a teeneager whose brain is readusting. Di you know that at 15, your brain goes through a serious readjust that affects your judgement. that's probably why 15 year olds are the scariest. Anyway, what you are going through is normal, you have had the same routine for 12 years, get up, o to school, get home do your homework. Well now it's different.

It always surprises me how people can feel depressed. When I get depressed I always think of the same thought and it makes me feel silly all of a sudden. I think about the world like a giant ladder. There is always going to be stronger, faster, richer and more powerful people above you. Very seldomly we look who we are above of. Like all the starving children all over the world, all the war victims in the middle East, the genocide victims in Sudan Africa, or how about people who lost everything to hurricane Katrina or the Indonesian earthquake last year that killed almost a million people. You don't have to worry about any f those things. You have food, shelter, and an education. So what will you do with it?

You need to first of all take care of yourself, you need to be a whole man. You need to feed yourself healthy food, try to continue your education, even if it's part time, keep going to work, be kind to others, if you are religious, go to church, even volunteer to work with children or others. Be careful who you date, your body is not a free-for-all, use protection. Take care of your finances, read the financial books people in debt are reading now, so you won't fall into that. Help out your parents (not financially, I meant more like housework if you live with them. If not, call often and meet them for lunch). High school was a pre-arranged life for you. Now you have to do it all yourself, be excited about that. hope this helps

Answer 4

I had that empty feeling for years after I started working full time and then I decided to go overseas and work in another country for a year, I didn't even care what job it was going to be. I got so motivated to do it that I worked another job to save the money.
It was the BEST year of my life. I didn't say no to anything and somehow I got involved in cross country and downhill cycling.
Now I just live to ride and I've made new friends and I feel so passionate about my life.
Set yourself a goal and go for it and stop saying no. Your life will change.
Say yes to everything for the next few weeks and see how different you feel.

Answer 5

you don't need a doctor and you don't need meds, this is just normal i think for your age, and your circumstances. You just graduated high school, and were used to hanging you with your friends all the time. Now everything has changed. The same thing is going on with me right now. I am turning 21 at the end of this month. I moved away from 2 years ago to go to school. I left my family and all my friends, and moved 2 hours away. It's not fare, and i get to see all of them every couple of months when i go home, but nothing is the same now when i go home to visit. A lot of the same people i used to hang out with aren't around, and i find me and my close friends in high school are drifting further and further apart. I think it's just part of growing up, living on your own, not having any money, and wanting things to be the same as they were in high school. I loved high school, and the things me and my friends all used to do, and a lot of the times i wish that we could do everything like that again, but for some reason things have changed. Just try to accept change in your life, but still try to get some fun time in with a couple close friends once in a while to make it seem like old times again. I have one really close friend back home that i still hang out with when i go home, and when we hang out she really reminds me of all the fun we used to have, and we try to do the same now.

Answer 6

I feel the EXACT same way. I am now in college which is the only thing I do. I don't have a job anymore and when I leave school I come home, sit down at the computer and listen to music *basically* alone. I mean I have my family but friends would be nice...they don't seem to be interested in coming over to see me or anything and it sucks.

To be perfectly honest though I'm not good at socializing much because I'm so sad.

I hope you get better...I've been on Wellbutrin for 2 months and it has done nothing thusfar.

Answer 7

Yes, you do need help, even if it is short term. Why do you feel that life is passing you by? Do you have a dream that you want to do something, become something but are not working toward that goal? If so, no wonder you are depressed. Listed to yourself. Feeling this way is not normal at any age; it is not a phase. It is a symptom of your dissatisfaction. Talk to yourself and learn why you are unhappy with your life and then do something about it.

Answer 8

You need to push yourself whether you feel like it or not and get your butt out of the house! Go to the park and walk around or go to the mall and window shop at the sports department, do something! You are in a rut and you need to get out of it and quickly! If you don't, you will start to become a hermit in your own little world and that's not good. You are getting depressed due to going to work, then going home, going to bed, then going back to work. YOU ARE IN A RUT! Go to a movie or a friends house just to get out of your house. Change your routine of things. It could be a phase you are going thru, it also could be that you are a late bloomer and your hormones are now just coming out or they were delayed and you are going thru some changes. You don't need any meds. Just change your routine of things and get back on track. Get a dog or another type of pet to get you interested in something besides work. Find a hobby.If you like sports or excersize go to a gym and work out some. Just change your routine of things and bad habits, get a hobby or a pet and find something interesting to do. You'll make it! Read a good book or listen to some of your favorite music. Not depressing one's either. Hope this has put some light into your darkness. Good luck!

Answer 9

My only thought is that you are not used to working for 8 hours a day and are feeling the effects of it physically.
If that is the case you will get over it.
Do you like your job and co-workers, that may also affect you

Some times it is better to talk with a friend you trust.

You don't say if you are a male or female but I don't think my advice is biased in favour of one or the other.
If you are a female it could one of those girly things (without going into specifics), that we mere males know little about.

Good luck.

Answer 10

medication will not help you, you can be sure of it...anti-depressives bring you a chemical sort of hapiness...a friend of mine tried it and ended up painting her hair purple and other strange stuff, because of pills, 'cause then, not even the reaction of others cares for you...i know what that is, i have it too, though i am a little bit younger...it's not a phase, it's a depression and it seems like the worst kind of it...it usually also causes sleep problems and lack of energy, but i don't know if that is the case... i don't really know what i'd tell you, 'cause i have the same problem and i didn't get over it, too... well, i guess you should try to take a little bit of time for yourself, listen to some music, relax and i guess you should talk to your friends, maybe they can help you out, in these situations you need the most support possible...
try not to be alone...i know you'll tend to do it,in such situations it's what usually happens, i sometimes do it also myself, but everytime i am alone i get worse, so, i guess you should try to hang out more, even if you don't feel like doing it...and yes, i'm sure you'll enjoy life again...=) hope it get's all better to you

Answer 11

The stuff about being paranoid and annoyed is from being alone so much. You've lost some of your teamworking skills and you will keep losing them if you keep to yourself for much longer. Invite some of your friends over for a movie nite or a wrestling nite or something. On this time that you're going out with your friends set up another time to see them.