Sad with no reason to be

[weeone]

Hi everyone,

 

I don't know what's wrong with me. I have a great life, family, friends, and a wonderful new boyfriend, and I work aswell as going to university...I have a busy life!!

 

I know I'm lucky, that's why I feel so terribly selfish and ungrateful for feeling sad, but I do. I don't know why. I would feel stupid going to a doctor because on paper, my life is perfect and I don't think anyone would understand. I'm going through a particularly bad episode right now...in a few weeks I'll be right as rain and feeling silly for moaning again, but right now I just feel so sad, and like crying a lot. I usually only get like this every few months, for a few weeks, then it passes.

 

I feel like I'm constantly worrying about SOMETHING, anything, and I can never seem to relax. I feel like such an idiot writing this because I know there are people out there who have real worries, and terrible lives...but to my shame, even that doesn't help me snap out of it. I'm just so sad, and I don't know why!!! (Starting to well up here)

 

Does anyone else ever feel like this? Sorry for sounding so damn self-pitying, I really wish I didn't feel like this!!!

[yes]

Oh yes, I have felt like this... many many times! Your best bet is to visit a psychotherapist and a psychietrist. Since you have no real complaints about your life, chances are high that it's a chemical imbalance that's causing your the baseless sadness. In that case, you'll have to take some anti-depressants (no need to tell anyone abt them!).

 

But also it's possible that there're some issues you've been ignoring - and a psychotherapist could help you with those. Especially when you say you can't relax and worry a lot, it makes me think that some talk-therapy would help you (again, nobody needs to know!).

 

Both services are available at most universities. By the way, do you get enough exercise?

 

The main thing is to overcome two assumptions ppl often erroneously make:

- depression is the result of weakness of character - WRONG, chemicals in your brain don't know about your character

- it's somehow shameful to go to a psychotherapist or psychietrist - can't be more wrong, you're helping yourself in very important aspects, how on earth can it be shameful?!

 

I've gone to both btw, i've had talk-therapy and anti-depressants, and lemme tell ya - I feel much much better now. If you have any questions - shoot!!

 

best of luck,

-yes

[weeone]

THANK YOU so much Yes!

 

I really, really appreciate your reply, thanks for taking the time to write back. You make it sound simpler than I thought it might be...and it's actually quite nice to think it might just be a chemical imbalance, like you say, rather than any "real" complaints. A baseless sadness is such a perfect way to describe the way I feel.

 

I think I might just take your advice and visit a doctor, because I'm dragging others down around me and I'm starting to feel guilty on top of everything. I'd love to just feel NORMAL!!

 

Thanks again Yes, you've made me feel a bit better It's a start!

[Iris]

I could have written your post. You described me to a tee. Do what Yes said and get some help. I am going back to my doctor's next week as I have reached an all time low again. The point about doing exercise is very valid though. Do you do exercise? I find I feel VERY depressed when I don't.

 

Good luck, you can get through this!

 

Iris

[weeone]

Hi Iris,

 

It's good to meet someone in the same situation, it's actually a hge relief!! I do quite a lot of exercise, I'm at the gym at least twice a week, as well as doing Pilates classes a few times a week. Thank god I do - I can't imagine how I'd feel otherwise by the sounds of things!

 

You say you've hit an all time low again...so are you the same? It just comes and goes...for no reason?? I'm so glad to come across someone who's feeling the same!

 

Take care, and good luck to you too