I think I definitely have some issues. I fantasized last night about downing a few bottles of pills in my soon-to-be dorm room so that my roommate would find me and call the police. I don't feel suicidal, but I often wonder just who besides my family would even care. I mean plenty of people would attempt to stop the attempt just out of social obligation, but how many people would visit me in the hospital or attend my funeral?
It is best not to think about such things though, and I'm feeling a lot better after sleeping.
I think those types of fantasies are somewhat normal if it's just.. kind of like musings and what-ifs to relieve your curiosity.
I think the void of "caring" that people feel is a problem that does lead to a lot of depression. There is a lot of social isolation/lack of social cohesion in our world so it might feel like no one truly cares. I think the only solution is for the individual to care themselves. To put themselves out there and care about others, about their own life, their passions, and goals. So that even if the world doesn't seem caring, the individual at least did, and that really in the end means there is care in the world?
(And really, the more care an individual puts out, the more care they will likely get in return because of the lives they have touched. So it becomes kind of a self-sustaining positive loop?)
So really.. touch more people (lol), touch more lives, be good, do good, and okay, you don't have to come to my funeral party if you wanna be a jerk about it, but like, it will be pretty awesome??
I am getting philosophical but also stupid, but it's early in the morning and I'm sleep-deprived, so that's okay. XD
Sleep is good. We could all use good sleeps.
I think I've turned a bit of a corner in my own life.
I hurt someone really bad in the past and I've felt so much guilt about it but I realized the other day sitting up at like 8am that instead of feeling guilt, I should cherish the memories I had of the person I drove away. I learned so much from them in such a short time that it changed my life, regardless of how I eventually drove them away. I've spent so much time the past 3 years just drilling into my head how much of a scumbag I am and how worthless I am over this but the past week I've just finally been able to breathe. I've just tried to be positive about everything in my life this week even though it's difficult. I've tried to see the positive in every situation, even ones that I know are sorta bad. It sorta gives me hope that things can turn around when I have good days.
I think some of my problems can be traced back to a very emotionally abusive relationship that I was in. I noticed many instances of feeling guilty were feelings of guilt for my shortcomings in the relationship and it eventually spilled over into the rest of my life. I'm a really easygoing person but my flaw is that I'm spineless sometimes and will do anything just to please those around me. And when expectations of me were unrealistic and I couldn't meet them I felt guilty. I'm not here trying to blame my problems on someone else, but I've lived my life and I know what I've felt and when it started.
I think I'm going to tell my parents eventually the extent to which I struggle sometimes. I've already told them that I felt like I was a burden to them last year but I don't think they quite realize how I feel sometimes. I have this image of myself being stoic and shouldering the load of whatever problems I have by myself and it makes me feel macho and tough but in the end I can't do it all on my own. I feel like my parents of all people should know what I deal with and why I sometimes (re)act poorly. I'm scared to death to let anyone know really. It's only easy here because I'll never meet any of you or anything. My greatest fear is being known so telling someone about all the things you feel guilty about and how you've thought about killing yourself in the past isn't exactly something I look forward to doing. I know telling them is something I have to do but I need to do it in a way that is comfortable for me and also not devastating to them. It can't be something that comes out during a fight because it will be meant to hurt.
There are other issues I face that mostly center around a biological problem I guess you'd call it but I realize that other people when they see me and think I'm so young, they don't know that there is likely something really wrong. There isn't an awareness there like there would be for someone with more obvious physical problems. I'm 27 and people think I'm in my mid teens. It's a physical thing but it has such an effect on self esteem and other things. I even changed my career plan from wanting to be a teacher to doing something else because I was so afraid how young I look and sound was going to hurt me in looking for a job and trying to start/keep a career. Again I don't mean to self diagnose, but I know my body and the way things are with it isn't natural.
edit: Is it acceptable to type something up and print it out and give it to them instead of sitting them down and talking about it? I feel like scheduling a time to talk with them they are going to get preconceived notions about what I mean to talk with them about. And honestly if I told them what I thought about the physical side of things it would be beyond embarrassing.
Thanks again for anyone that reads all of this. It's really helpful to get all of this off my chest regardless. I really wish I had anything more insightful to say to help others who are also suffering.
I think if you really feel like you can't talk to them face to face, then yeah, printing something out to give them to read is okay. I think they might approach you afterwards and try to talk anyway. Trying to find the perfect or most opportune time is difficult. It's never a good time to tell someone things that might upset them.
Being overly self-critical is tough, but it's admirable that you have tried to take the most positive view you can about your experiences. That shows you still have a lot of control and room to manoeuvre in life, I think. I know it's hard to admit to people you know that you might not be as strong or resilient as you appear, but the people who care about you will most likely be understanding and nonjudgmental. They probably have their own list of issues or shortcomings they fear talking about, and maybe they can't relate on the level you feel it, they can relate at least somewhat. I think as long as they are going to try to help or support you (even if they don't know how at the moment), it will help you feel less alone in this struggle.
Keep in mind that people are more resilient than you might think. This includes you and also your parents. Whatever happens, you can support one another through it, and hopefully you get whatever help you might need too. Good luck.
My drinking has gotten out of control. I think I'm too much of a coward to kill myself so I subconsciously slowly kill myself with alcohol instead.
At least you are able to acknowledge it. Do you feel like you want to change what you're doing and to get better from this?
Even if you can bring yourself to a "meh" state instead of a wanting to self-destruct state, I think it woudl be worth the effort.
Is depression just seemingly vanishing without any clear cause a success story?
Bothers me a lot. Especially since i doubt this is permanent change.
I think so. For some people, depression just suddenly appears in their lives with no seeming cause too. Why not have it disappear without any seeming cause?
Just the fact that it can leave is hope-inducing in itself, right?
I think it's good to hope that it's a permanent change, but even if it isn't, the experience shows that you can still come out of depression. I think the strategy is to focus on the good points of "temporary" and change your perspective so that the depression is the state that you feel is temporary instead.