What can I do about my chronic depression and unhappiness?

United States
October 10, 2010 3:24pm CST
I don't know how to make my life better.
1 person likes this
9 responses
• Poland
10 Oct 10
Well, but you know, depression is a disease. Being unhappy and having depression usually are connected but not the same. We know nothing about your situation and we can tell you nothing useful unless you write more. For example, are you seeing a psychiatrist, how long have you been this way.....?
@elmsquie (78)
• Philippines
10 Oct 10
Try going to places you've never been. Do things you've always wanted to do. Meet new people. A new environment will help.
• United States
11 Oct 10
This is probably my biggest reason for my depression is that I need a new environment badly and have for quite some time.
• United States
11 Oct 10
And I have little income way less then $1,000 per month and I have no car. Nor do I have the money to buy a car. Plus I'm not that good of a driver. A person is kind of limited when they don't have a car.
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
11 Oct 10
There are things one likes and dislikes. Different people have different preferences. So, you will also have things you like and enjoy. If you could identify them and enjoy them, that would be very helpful in getting rid of the depression. I, for instance, am pretty much addicted to music. I very much enjoy listening to different kinds of music. And, that helps me in getting rid of the boredom and stresses of the day.
• United States
10 Oct 10
This may not be what you wanted to hear, but have you tried talking to someone in the church. I do not know what religion that you are, but I am having a very hard time right now also. The only thing that is getting me through it is God and my faith. My preacher has helped a lot. Just a suggestion.
• United States
11 Oct 10
The big ? of the day is this "Is God and Jesus really out there?". People seem to be moving away from the belief in God. I do pray daily but I know that I really don't know if God and/or Jesus exist. I have a religious fanatic brother who I was corresponding with on facebook until he told me in a message that I was going to burn in the lake of fire. He told me a few years back that he knew (I mean he knew) that I was going to go to hell. Compared to other people I think I'm pretty good so if I'm going to burn I think most everybody is going to. But I don't think about this sort of stuff because this religious stuff can drive a person insane. I pretty sure I do not believe in such a horrifying place. I think people in the olden days made allot of stuff up.
• United States
12 Oct 10
I understand how you feel. I am actually a Chrisian and was raised in the church, but have been really struggling with my faith. I do not want to harp on you or at all sound like your brother; yet I will tell you my opinion. I do believe in both heaven and hell. I also believe that you cannot get to heaven by just being a "good person." It is actually much easier than that. In order to get to heaven, you have to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. However, many things have happened to me in the last year to ask the same question that you asked: Is God and Jesus really out there? And at the times when I am really depressed, I come back to the same thing: if I do not have God and hope, I have nothing. He gives me hope for the future. My advice to you is this: pray and ask God to show you if He is there and real. I believe He will somehow show you. If He does not let you know that He is there, then you can go on about your life. I will be praying for you. I hope that I did not sound like a judgmental Christian. I dislike those kinds of people. I am just telling you how I feel. God bless.
@rappeter13 (8608)
• Romania
10 Oct 10
Try to let things go and not care about them. Try to think on good things, read many jokes, watch lots of comedies, try to meet new people and make yourself different goals. When you manage to do this, then try to develop yourself a defensive mechanism which regards feelings to others, and you will never suffer so much anymore. I was the same, I was sort of depressive when we moved to another place when I was a child and I couldn't go over this. I couldn't find my place in the new home and I could integrate well in the new society I was in. I was very sick, I went to see many doctors but they couldn't help me. Then I tried to not to think about the past, tried to find myself new friends and after I recovered I developed myself a defensive mechanism. Now I don't suffer from depression anymore, and when something bad happens I recover very fast.
• United States
11 Oct 10
I tried to make friends with a few women in this apartment complex. One of them would not give me the time of day even after I paid her the kindness of keeping some of her packages for her until she arrived home. I asked her about her job and she blurts out "I'm an Engineer" kind of loud and in a tone like she was better. Actually she's an engineer in training. And another woman who is my exact same age wouldn't even go out with me for a cup of coffee after I'd talked with her outside quite a few times. Plus she would not invite me in her apartment not even for a minute. I'm a nice very likable person but only certain types of people seem to like me. The kind who don't judge you by the way you look, dress and sound.
• United States
10 Oct 10
Are you seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist? Are you taking anything? If so, and it's not working, try changing meds. Also, try taking calming walks in the morning and practicing Yoga. Also, eating well and exercising are proven to naturally raise the serotonin level! I don't know if it will raise your serotonin level high enough to not be fully depressed anymore but it will definitely help!
• United States
11 Oct 10
I'm going to see if I can get an appt with a psychologist. I do walk quite a bit and I been eating salads and drinking smoothies. There are some specific reasons I'm depressed but I just don't feel comfortable listing them here.
1 person likes this
@Bryanx54 (644)
11 Oct 10
Depression is serious the best therapy for that is to listen to music as it sends out postive energy from the brain and can make you alot happier listen to your favourite songs sing them out loud. Sing till all that pain leaves your mind. hope this helps. much love Bryan
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
10 Oct 10
First thing you need to do is see a doctor. There are medical conditions which can cause an unbalance in brain chemistry. Medically OK! Then you need to re-evaluate your thinking. Change your value and view system. Happiness is no more than a choice.
@fannitia (2167)
• Bulgaria
10 Oct 10
The depression is something very serious. But I think that medications should be the very last resort. It's difficult to give you an advice - you don't say the possible causes, maybe you can't tell what they are. I think that you have to try and speak with somebody about specific things in your life. You can even start discussions but not with such a general question. Tell your friends what exactly you don't like in your life and what you want to have. So step by step you'll begin to discover answers. Also from my own experience I can tell you that if you keep yourself busy with more work, you don't have time to think about bad things.