Can't enjoy anything...

[Aiden]

I've always been an anxious person but I can't seem to enjoy things anymore. I turn everything into a project. I get stressed out too easily. When I try doing something I used to enjoy, I wanna just give up. I get frustrated easily. My focus isn't what it used to be. How can I fix this? I tried meditation but I just get even more anxious/frustrated but perhaps I'm doing it wrong... ugh.

I lack patience and I get bored quickly. I think a lot of it has something to do with the sort instant-gratification world we live in these days with the internet and cell phones... but I always feel anxious and I don't enjoy life like I used to and it's eating away at me. Any advice?

[blossom]

I feel the same alot too. I think it does have alot to do with getting so used to having everything at your fingertips instantly and then , when you have to wait it creates an anxiety in the impatience. I don't know what to say except to cut back on internet and turn your phone off regularly. I know, before I got a laptop and phone, I enjoyed my life a whole lot more. I want to start really curbing the time I spend on-line and spend more time in nature, and keep my phone off alot. I really don't make calls very often, it's more for messages.

[180]

My hypothesis (as I suffer from the same dilemma) is that it's the result of desensitsation (What what a spelling disaster) to everyday life.

Think if we lived in one of those "mental asylum" type padded white room with nothing in it for 22 hours a day. And 2 hours a day we are let out into the real world. My god your 2 hours would be filled amazing activities.

With so many things available to us, our everyday life becomes tame and we are easily distracted or bored with things.

I drink green tea everyday. It's lost all meaning and enjoyment. I go to the cafe and read everyday, it's become boring. There is too much Stimulus in our life that even things we used to enjoy become annoying and "projects".

I think you're on the right track though. Meditation puts us in a zero mind state. Our own mental "White padded room", if you will. So when we go out into the world, our senses can fully appreciate what happens around us. The problem is.... WE GET BORED OF MEDITATION!

I think to kick this funk, we need to stop all the chatter, noise, music, static, all the things outside just for a moment. Find a quiet room all alone with nothing to do.

I find though that I can't stand it. I need.... something. So I choose one thing... I listen to jazz music. It's not a white padded room. But it's a start for me at least.

[blossom]

I'm actually pretty good at doing nothing. I consider it a valuable and rare skill

[ar81]

Anxiety can be healed with laughter

'Laugh your sorrows away'
BBC News | SOUTH ASIA | 'Laugh your sorrows away'

Laughter May Indeed Be the Best Medicine
Study Shows Laughing Changes Blood Chemistry, Helps Protect Against Disease, Depression
Laughter May Indeed Be the Best Medicine - ABC News

Anticipating A Laugh Reduces Our Stress Hormones, Study Shows
Anticipating A Laugh Reduces Our Stress Hormones, Study Shows

Reboot your life: 20 mental barriers you should let go of
Reboot your life: 20 mental barriers you should let go of | Soul Hiker

As for what you feel now, it is depression.
Depression is a biochemical cheat in our brain.
It changes the way we think, so our thoughts become unreliable.
It changes the way we feel, so our feelings are unreliable.
It changes our perception, so our view of reality is darker and not reliable.

From 15 to 24 years old, biochemical changes in your body causes you to be depressed. So it is not that the world is falling upon you. It is a biochemical cheat, so why not trying to accept it and enjoy the day despite of depression, enjoy the happy real world behind the veil of our emotions?

[Lauxa]

Someone on this forum recommended Thievery Corporation's music for focus. I made a Pandora station based on them and I've been using it as my background music for projects that require focus -- and I will second the recommendation.

I think having a little music in the background can help take the edge off, give the brain something subtle to think about when it is bored or anxious for a cycle or two.

[AdamA]

Aiden,

I tried meditation too....It worked to a point. But then I tried a meditation CD program called Holosync. Basically, you put on a pair of headphones and listen to calming sounds/music. It's called braiinwave entrainment, and basically it slows down your brain waves to a relaxed state.

I don't know if it will work for you, but it's something to try.

[InnerChallenge]

Originally Posted by AdamA

Aiden,

I tried meditation too....It worked to a point. But then I tried a meditation CD program called Holosync. Basically, you put on a pair of headphones and listen to calming sounds/music. It's called braiinwave entrainment, and basically it slows down your brain waves to a relaxed state.

I don't know if it will work for you, but it's something to try.

I use an other product of Centerpointe: the Awakening Prologue. It is truly amazing. I got some amazing results from it. Before I didn't really get results from meditating. After about a week I meditated very 'deep' (don't know the correct terminology, but it was like my body was in standby and my I was in total control of my mind and thoughts).
Now I sleep better and less hours, I have less stress, feel much happier, I can focus longer, my memory has improved, I am much more confident,...
I recommend Centerpointe products to everyone who is interested in meditation. It's mindblowing good

[diozen]

Lack of deep and meaningful interactions with other people can make the most exciting things seem dull. Are you a loner?

[AdamA]

Originally Posted by InnerChallenge

I use an other product of Centerpointe: the Awakening Prologue. It is truly amazing. I got some amazing results from it. Before I didn't really get results from meditating. After about a week I meditated very 'deep' (don't know the correct terminology, but it was like my body was in standby and my I was in total control of my mind and thoughts).
Now I sleep better and less hours, I have less stress, feel much happier, I can focus longer, my memory has improved, I am much more confident,...
I recommend Centerpointe products to everyone who is interested in meditation. It's mindblowing good

InnerChallenge,

Pardon my terminology, we are talking about the same thing. I meant Awakening Prologue (1st level) which uses Holosync technology.

[Blancheys]

Originally Posted by diozen

Lack of deep and meaningful interactions with other people can make the most exciting things seem dull. Are you a loner?

I agree. All I can tell you is, hang out with friends more often. Do things, make things and enjoy things with people you value.

[Mike75]

Originally Posted by Aiden

I've always been an anxious person but I can't seem to enjoy things anymore. I turn everything into a project. I get stressed out too easily. When I try doing something I used to enjoy, I wanna just give up. I get frustrated easily. My focus isn't what it used to be. How can I fix this? I tried meditation but I just get even more anxious/frustrated but perhaps I'm doing it wrong... ugh.

When did you start feeling like this? Is there any special inciedent attached to it. Your posts seems to show that you have a fear of failure. Is it related to your life?

[sonde]

Originally Posted by Aiden

I've always been an anxious person but I can't seem to enjoy things anymore. I turn everything into a project. I get stressed out too easily. When I try doing something I used to enjoy, I wanna just give up. I get frustrated easily. My focus isn't what it used to be. How can I fix this? I tried meditation but I just get even more anxious/frustrated but perhaps I'm doing it wrong... ugh.

I lack patience and I get bored quickly. I think a lot of it has something to do with the sort instant-gratification world we live in these days with the internet and cell phones... but I always feel anxious and I don't enjoy life like I used to and it's eating away at me. Any advice?

Notice that all the descriptions of yourself in your post are your own thoughts. Be careful how you think about (describe) yourself as this is what you experience.