advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Anonymous40099
Guest
Anonymous40099 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 09, 2019 at 06:26 PM
  #1
I am puzzled of what makes people tick in everyday life. When I go out literally dragging myself to do what I have to do, like buying groceries, I see people energetic, awake with a strong desire to live, driving, working, talking loudly, laughing, enjoying life... etc. It seems to me, there is a seed of life in everyone that I am missing. Even the less fortunate people have energy to do things I have no energy to do. Even eating is so much effort for me, and often I eat only when I have a headache, i.e., I force myself to eat. What makes you tick? Where do you get your energy and mental strength from? From your friends, family, partner, children ... ? Do you force yourself to live, talk, ... etc, or it comes naturally and effortlessly to you? I am not talking about the lack of struggle in others lives, but their desire and energy to live.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Anonymous46341

advertisement
Anonymous43089
Guest
Anonymous43089 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 09, 2019 at 07:02 PM
  #2
What you've seen is will, a thing possessed by those who know why.

The answer is an ineffable secret, hidden within you at the edges of reason.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Anonymous46341
Anonymous40099
Guest
Anonymous40099 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 09, 2019 at 07:41 PM
  #3
Quote:
Originally Posted by theoretical View Post
What you've seen is will, a thing possessed by those who know why.

The answer is an ineffable secret, hidden within you at the edges of reason.
I feel it's a secret, even for the people who have it. I was listening to a mental health university professor today saying that being anxious and depressed and suicidal and addicted are understandable in the face death and meaningless of life, but what is a mystery are those who live and strive to be better. I totally agree. As I said, there seems to be a seed of life in most people. A biased hope. I had it before, but I have lost it, and haven't been able to retrieve it back. Life is just a meaningless place. A prison as I see it. An arena I was put in with monsters to struggle with, until the giant monster of death comes and kick me out defeated. This is how I view life. Why would someone want to bring children to this world!! People say they prefer to live even if they struggle most of their lives. This is a puzzle for me. Anyone feels like this, or it's just me?
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
WishfulThinker66
Magnate
 
WishfulThinker66's Avatar
WishfulThinker66 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,285
5 yr Member
117 hugs
given
Default Jul 10, 2019 at 09:29 AM
  #4
Will definitely has a part of it; but, I think even greater is a sense of purpose. I strongly believe that the carefree in this world have such to a strong degree while those of us that seem to go from trouble to trouble are lacking.

I look at the healthier more successful and happier times in my life and am struck at the realisation I had a higher sense of purpose at the time. THose times I have struggled with ill health I seem to have lost it.

My former psychiatrist told me once that this was something I strongly needed to work on; sense of purpose and also resiliancey.

My sense of purpose is in fact improving and with it a measure of confidence and happiness. I went back to work a year ago and unfortunately that killed it for me and I fell into the depths of anxiety and despair again. Frankly, I no longer ticked. But it has now been several months since I brought that work to an end and once again things are improving and yes, I feel as though I were ticking again.
WishfulThinker66 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous32451
Guest
Anonymous32451 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 10, 2019 at 09:53 AM
  #5
music.

I never go anywhere without music. it can really lift the spirit

I'm constantly updating my playlist with newly discovered songs and artists- in fact I'm passionate about it- and when I lost my computer with a lot of my music stored, I worked solid for 3 days trying to rebuild it back up.

music is.. well, a key that can open any emotion

that's what I think
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous32451
Guest
Anonymous32451 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 10, 2019 at 09:54 AM
  #6
do you have something like that?. something you just love

get it from that
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous40099
Guest
Anonymous40099 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 10, 2019 at 01:00 PM
  #7
Currently, nothing makes me want to live. Not money, not travel, not a hobby or passion (I have non). Nothing. I have no sense of purpose or meaning. My life is empty. No job, no friends, and no relationships. I don't think not having a job is a reason, but currently it's a contributing factor to feel more depressed. In the past I had a good paying job, but still felt my life was meaningless, and was depressed. I think the root issue for me is not have a social life where I feel I am valued or mean anything to anyone. I was going home from work to be alone, after feeling lonely all day long at work. I have spent my weekends and holidays alone. I have issues connecting with people for some reason, and I have struggled to build friendships over the years. Although I have been like this all my life, I was still trying and talking to people, even when I felt not valued and respected because of who I am. But for the last 5 years, I feel I have just given up. I have lost the glimmer of hope I had once. Now the world is just an ugly place, and I don't understand how people find energy and meaning to live!!
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Anonymous32451, Anonymous46341
-jimi-
Jimi the rat
 
-jimi-'s Avatar
-jimi- is a vermin. Please feed me anyway.
 
Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,234
15 yr Member PC PoohBah!
Default Jul 10, 2019 at 06:26 PM
  #8
It's called dopamine. Without it, we're screwed.

__________________
-jimi- is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous40099
Guest
Anonymous40099 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 10, 2019 at 09:34 PM
  #9
I am not sure if people go about their everyday life relying on dopamine. Dopamine is related to pleasure. I don't think people feel feel happy about their everyday lives. There is a struggle element, but still it doesn't get in the way for them to go about their own lives. There is something pushing them. There is something they see and I don't. Something they feel and I am missing.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Anonymous32451
Anonymous32451
Guest
Anonymous32451 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 11, 2019 at 08:36 AM
  #10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nxious View Post
Currently, nothing makes me want to live. Not money, not travel, not a hobby or passion (I have non). Nothing. I have no sense of purpose or meaning. My life is empty. No job, no friends, and no relationships. I don't think not having a job is a reason, but currently it's a contributing factor to feel more depressed. In the past I had a good paying job, but still felt my life was meaningless, and was depressed. I think the root issue for me is not have a social life where I feel I am valued or mean anything to anyone. I was going home from work to be alone, after feeling lonely all day long at work. I have spent my weekends and holidays alone. I have issues connecting with people for some reason, and I have struggled to build friendships over the years. Although I have been like this all my life, I was still trying and talking to people, even when I felt not valued and respected because of who I am. But for the last 5 years, I feel I have just given up. I have lost the glimmer of hope I had once. Now the world is just an ugly place, and I don't understand how people find energy and meaning to live!!


my social life can be described as "tragic", because I litirally do nothing with my days- I have no one to see, no one to visit, no one to check up on, etc.

I've often crossed my fingers and hoped this was some kind of simulated life to prepare you for the real thing

but it isn't. this is all you get
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
-jimi-
Jimi the rat
 
-jimi-'s Avatar
-jimi- is a vermin. Please feed me anyway.
 
Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Northern Europe
Posts: 6,234
15 yr Member PC PoohBah!
Default Jul 11, 2019 at 09:27 AM
  #11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nxious View Post
I am not sure if people go about their everyday life relying on dopamine. Dopamine is related to pleasure.
It is related to motivation. It is what makes people start up and push through, usually effortless, and they get rewards from within for every little thing they do.

It's not magic.

__________________
-jimi- is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous46341
Guest
Anonymous46341 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Jul 11, 2019 at 10:33 AM
  #12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nxious View Post
I am puzzled of what makes people tick in everyday life. When I go out literally dragging myself to do what I have to do, like buying groceries, I see people energetic, awake with a strong desire to live, driving, working, talking loudly, laughing, enjoying life... etc. It seems to me, there is a seed of life in everyone that I am missing. Even the less fortunate people have energy to do things I have no energy to do. Even eating is so much effort for me, and often I eat only when I have a headache, i.e., I force myself to eat. What makes you tick? Where do you get your energy and mental strength from? From your friends, family, partner, children ... ? Do you force yourself to live, talk, ... etc, or it comes naturally and effortlessly to you? I am not talking about the lack of struggle in others lives, but their desire and energy to live.
Have you always felt this way? Or do you think it is mostly because of depression and/or medication sedation?

My psychiatrist once told me I had a hyperthymic temperament as a baseline. I also have bipolar disorder type 1 (hyperthymic temperament shares characteristics with hypomania). Looking back, I was on the up side (even if mixed) much more than the down side. That doesn't mean I didn't have a few long depressive periods with anhedonia and low energy. I've written a lot about my low energy periods.

To answer your question, I have often had a "pursuit of pleasure" thing going on. IOW, the ability to find pleasure from small things in life, a lot of the time. That makes me tick. Whether or not that's a talent or a gift from hyperthymic temperament, I don't know. Again, I do experience grief, sadness, frustration, anger, defeat/disappointment, and other feelings, too, at times. One thing I have rarely ever felt was complete hopelessness. I know I will always bounce back. I have never truly been suicidal. During severe mixed episodes (even with psychosis) I have been a danger to myself, but mostly calls for help.

I have a healthy self-esteem, but in a good way.

Last edited by Anonymous46341; Jul 11, 2019 at 10:51 AM..
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.