I'm always sad, with no good reason. Am I depressed or just plain selfish?

Question

I have a good family. I just feel like I don't know what to do with my life and I'm stuck thinking that I'll end up unfulfilled.
I cried myself to sleep last night thinking about this, so any advice would be dully appreciated.

I've recently graduated form college by the way.

Answer 1

Sounds like you are a little depressed and worry to much about the future. Don't be to hard on yourself about not knowing what you want to do with your life.

I believe most of us fall into this category. I'm about 10 years from retirement and I STILL have those thoughts.

The best advise that I can give you is to trust the Lord, and understand that he has a plan specific to you. Learn to live in the momemnt. If you live and think in the past you will feel sad. If you live and think in the future you will worry.

To be happy, just stay in the moment. "This is the day that the Lord had made, I will rejoice and be glad in "IT".

When you decide to do something as far as work choice, go with your passion. Don't second guess yourself. You can always change course later. It is not unusual to change jobs and carreers. I worked in the Oil Industry, Food Industry, and Home Improvement. I am currently seeking employment in a new field. I try to take something away from each job that I have had and learn something new.

Good Luck and God bless! You will do fine. Remember to Smile!!!

Answer 2

You sound like me a bit. I am going to be graduating soon and I am like what in the hell am I going to do with this damn degree. I think its normal what you are feeling. You are making a transition from college life to the working world. Its ok if you dont have things figured out right away. Keep you mind open. The way you are feeling now is temporary. I worry all the time like what if I do this one career but then Im like well I dont have my heart in anything. Try some volunteering and get a job that will look good on the resume and where you think you will learn a lot. Before you know it something will hit you and you will be like why didnt I think of that before. So dont push yourself too hard and if you liked school get a masters it couldnt hurt. Remember there is soooooo much time to figure all this out. Good Luck:)

Answer 3

If you're always sad, there is a reason. You are sad because of all the negative things you're telling yourself about yourself.

If I thought that I was selfish & would never end up fulfilled, I would cry myself to sleep too.

Feelings follow action. A thought is an action. The feeling that follows come from a thought.
This is what cognitive therapy teaches.

When we tell ourselves negative things about ourselves, our subconscious doesn't know that we are lying to it. . . . it just reacts, and the next thing you know, we are sad.

You are not "stuck thinking" anything. You, and only you, are in control of your thoughts. If you think that your thoughts are controlled by some outside source, you're nuts & need to be in a mental institution. (which isn't that bad, by the way) You get to talk to people all day who understand you, and you get a lot of really good food.

You sound like you are more than just sad though. I think you might be depressed. It never hurts, and always helps, if people go visit a reputable, qualified therapist. I did it for years. I am also on Zoloft. They bothed helped tremendously.

Good luck, misadnis. You deserve to be happy. The little girl inside you is crying out for help; give it to her. And, congratulations for graduating from college! What an amazing accomplishment that is! God bless you.

Answer 4

You sound pretty insightful. This is a common feeling, especially when you have just graduated. Try thinking about why you got the degree you got, what inspired you and what you originally wanted to do with it. An internship might be a good idea. Also, talk to your parents (if they are understanding people), they have life experience and they know you.
Even if your job doesn't end up being your dream job, there are lots of ways to be fulfilled in your free time, like hobbies, volunteering, etc.
You also might want to read some books about choosing a career, like "What Color is Your Parachute?" and "Zen and the Art of Making a Living." They have information on different career paths, as well as quizzes to help you figure out what you want to do.

Answer 5

Welcome to my world. I have the same problem. I think that you are depress. While feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life, when emotions such as apathy and despair take hold and just won't go away, depression may be the cause. More than just the temporary "blues," the lows of major depression make it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did.

But in order to deal with depression, you first need to know what it looks like. Learning how to recognize the many signs and symptoms of depression is the first step to understanding and overcoming the problem

Depressed mood
Feeling hopeless, sad, discouraged, or empty.

Loss of interest or pleasure
Inability to experience pleasure. Nothing seems to interest you anymore, including former hobbies, social activities, and sex.

Appetite or weight changes
Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.

Sleep changes
Insomnia or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

Psychomotor agitation or retardation
“Keyed up,” unable to sit still, anxious, restless or sluggish, slow speech and body movements, lack of responsiveness.

Fatigue or loss of energy
Physically drained. Even small tasks are exhausting. Can't do things as quickly as you used to.

Self-loathing
Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Harsh criticism of perceived faults and mistakes.

Concentration problems
Inability to focus. Difficulty making decisions. Can’t “think straight.” Memory problems.

Irritability
Grouchy, easily annoyed, and frustrated by little things. Angry outbursts.

Aches and pains
Depression can cause or exacerbate many physical symptoms, including headaches, backaches, diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, and aching joints

Answer 6

Maybe both.