Please any help would mean a lot.

[dennis08]

Here is the situation. I have no interests and there is nothing that I can say that I enjoy doing. I do things that other people "like" to do but for me I don't "like" to do them I just do them.

Take music for example. People "like" music. I just listen and can't say that I like it. This has had an impact on me.

I don't know what I want to do when I get older. I’m 17 and have NO clue. There’s nothing I like to do or have an interest in doing. I’m a bit worried here. Any suggestions?

[Shamou]

Have you been like that all your life... or is this recent...???
.

[dennis08]

All my life my friend.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by dennis08

All my life my friend.

Are you tired... or feel depressed all the time...???
.

[dennis08]

Yes. I am tired right now because its 12:01AM and I am depressed about 90%of the time. It has some to do with my family. They depress me. But I have been depressed for a long time. Like years.

[bluskygirl]

I'm sorry. I don't have much in the way of advice, but I will share something with you that has changed my direction and the passion with which I live my life.

For my Dad's 54th birthday I took him skydiving. We waiting on the ground for a couple hours and just watched all the skydivers doin' their thing. They seemed so... full and abundant; I can't really explain it. So, it was finally our turn and the plane ride was of course in slow motion. But, when it came time to jump out of that plane, time stopped. I can't explain to you the feeling, but for me it was an awakening. It was as if someone had slapped me around and said, "Don't you see how fragile life is? Don't you see how you must live every second of it completely?" After that first jump, everything seemed to matter so much more to me. Ten minutes with my kids in the morning before school; a conversation with my friend about love, music, and everything else seemed precious like it never had before. I am a skydiver now, and jump nearly every weekend.

Here's what I think I was "witnessing" at the dropzone that day I made my first jump. Skydivers deal with their mortality on a regular basis. Every time we make a jump we are face to face with death and how fragile and precious our life is. People think we're these crazy adrenaline junkies, but skydiver's don't even speed! Seriously, it puts a whole new perspective on things and life just matters more.

Now, I'm not suggesting that you go make a skydive (I am biased though ). What I'm suggesting is that maybe you are in a place where life doesn't seem all that precious or special. It seems like you're "asleep" in life almost. Skydiving woke me up from my sleepwalking, and so I think that finding something that would do that for you might make a difference. I wish I had better advice for you, and I wish you all the best.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by dennis08

Yes. I am tired right now because its 12:01AM and I am depressed about 90%of the time. It has some to do with my family. They depress me. But I have been depressed for a long time. Like years.

First and foremost Denis, you must accept the fact that your family, even if they do not perform according to your expectation, are doing the best that they can with what they have...

Second, I believe that your apathy stems from the fact that you do not truly believe that there is a way out of your present condition... and, coupled with that, you may be waiting for some outside influence to direct your life...

You are the Captain of your soul and the Master of your ship... you and you alone can turn your life around...

It takes a lot of energy to stay depressed... unbelievable but true... so, if you take that same amount of energy and work toward something positive in your life... you'll find yourself much happier...

As fas as finding something that you like to do... the only thing that you can do is experiment... go to a zoo... maybe you'll find something there that inspire you... if not, go to a museum... take some art classes... go to a gym... take a long walk in the woods... climb a mountain... help a friend in need... write some poems... read about Africa...

Seek and ye shall find...

The very best of luck to you... and keep us posted...
.

[openeyes]

Are you able to make yourself do things whether you initially enjoy them or not? If so, try exercise, even if it's just going for a 30 minute walk a few times a week at first. Depressed people often have trouble making themselves go out and be active, but for those who can, exercise has proven itself to be more effective than any antidepressant.

Getting out should do you some good anyhow if thoughts of family have negative effect on you. Hang out at a book store, a park, or really anywhere outside the house and away from your common surroundings.

If you can manage to go skydiving as mentioned above it shouldn't hurt. I've found that close encounters with one's own mortality can work wonders for waking a person up.

[Zukin]

I'm not a doctor or psychologist, but I think the Wikipedia entry has a good overview of clinical depression including various causes and treatments:

Clinical depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McMan's Depression and Bipolar web site also has some good articles:
McMan's Depression and Bipolar Web - Your depression and bipolar disorder source

If you feel depressed and sad, I would recommend adjusting your nutrition intake to make sure you eat enough fruits and vegetables every day and start taking omega 3 and the vitamin supplements listed here:
Clinical depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To be safe, make sure you don't go over the recommended daily intake.

I learned about the use of Omega 3 supplements to treat depression from this book:
The Omega 3 Connection

You can also teach yourself cognitive behavioral therapy to deal with the thoughts that lead to depression:
Cognitive behavioral therapy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I used to have lots of feelings of depression and anxiety, but I was able to deal with them by using Omega 3 supplements, improving my nutrition, disputing negative thoughts through cognitive behavioral therapy, and making sure I get enough sunlight each day (since a lack of Vitamin D can also lead to anxiety and depression).

As far as finding things you like to do, you can browse through Wikipedia or watch videos on YouTube and write down stuff that looks interesting.

[Minsc]

Originally Posted by Zukin

To be safe, make sure you don't go over the recommended daily intake.

Should use the UL instead...
Dietary Reference Intake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (it's in the table)

Also, vitamin A's UL is for retinol.. I don't think you could overdose on vitamin A from carotenoids. Your intestines will adapt to high levels of iron over time.

[Zukin]

Yeah, I actually should have said upper limit.

Thank you for the link, Minsc!

[dennis08]

You guys Im not popin pills to be happier = (

[stayfly]

I would recommend trying a bunch of different things to get a better understanding of yourself and what you do or don't like.

I also recommend that you focus some of your time and energy on contributing, look for charities and special programs that you can get involved in to help other people. Even an hour a week or an hour a month would be good. By helping others and seeing how disadvantaged others are you may gain some key understandings and again learn more about yourself.

You mentioned your family depressing you as one challenge, maybe you could make it a goal to move away and create a better life for yourself away from them.

Are there any other major challenges in your life right now?

[Ree]

Originally Posted by stayfly

I would recommend trying a bunch of different things to get a better understanding of yourself and what you do or don't like.

I also recommend that you focus some of your time and energy on contributing, look for charities and special programs that you can get involved in to help other people. Even an hour a week or an hour a month would be good. By helping others and seeing how disadvantaged others are you may gain some key understandings and again learn more about yourself.

I second Stafly's suggestion to try volunteering. It's amazing what sorts of pathways will open up to you if you make a move to be of service in this world. You may introduce yourself to something for which you have passion, and you may very well meet people you find stimulating and interesting. Try Habitat for Humanity, the local animal shelter, a children's hospital, a community theatre.

The other suggestion I would make is that you are in fact creating your life as it is right now. If you want another kind of life, you must create it for yourself.

[dennis08]

Originally Posted by Ree

The other suggestion I would make is that you are in fact creating your life as it is right now. If you want another kind of life, you must create it for yourself.

What if you lack the characteristics or the Intelligence ?

[stayfly]

Originally Posted by dennis08

What if you lack the characteristics or the Intelligence ?

EVERYONE has the characteristics and intelligence to create their life

[John Hill]

Somehow the circumstances of your life have made you feel this way. There is no point going back into the past to figure out what caused this, at this stage you need to focus on the present. Most people and perhaps you as well have some type of secret dream or fantasy life they would like to live.

Whatever you might secretly desire or dream about would be a good place to start. It's not important that you believe it is possible to achieve this dream but if you like nothing and nothing makes you happy you need to start somewhere as this condition will probably only get worse as you get older.

I wrote an article a while ago what are you depositing in your mental bank, it explains how we are each responsible for the conditions of our lives and maybe you need to re-assess what you habitually think about.

John

Attracting People.com

[Strangemagik]

I was gonna suggest depression too.

Might talk to your Dr. about it. Maybe with some talking or even meds you could find things you like to do.


I think you have "liked" things over the years but if you are as depressed as often as you say its probably because what you liked you don't anymore.

[dennis08]

Thanks for the help guys.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by dennis08

Thanks for the help guys.

Keep us posted Denis… you have some very good people here who care… so, don’t blow it… tell us how you are doing… and they’ll guide you to wherever it is that you want to go…
.

[dennis08]

Thanks Shamou will do !

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by dennis08

Here is the situation. I have no interests and there is nothing that I can say that I enjoy doing. I do things that other people "like" to do but for me I don't "like" to do them I just do them.

Take music for example. People "like" music. I just listen and can't say that I like it. This has had an impact on me.

I don't know what I want to do when I get older. I’m 17 and have NO clue. There’s nothing I like to do or have an interest in doing. I’m a bit worried here. Any suggestions?

There has to be something out there that you enjoy.... This a horribly cliched saying, but if you could do anything for the day regardless of how much time/money you had, what would it be? Surely there are things out there you find more fun than laying in bed or staring at the wall, even they don't have you jumping with excitement...

I can be the same way at times in that I don't tend to like doing what most other people do for fun... It drives my girlfriend crazy that I really cannot stand going out to a movie (or most of the movies that come out for that matter), and there are plenty of things that most people I know love doing, which I'd find about as fun as watching the grass grow. I can, however, spend an entire day playing computer games (certain ones at least) and not even notice the time going by, and since visiting Steve's site and this board, have started several little side projects incorporating computer games, which I love, and writing, which I can find tedious but am pretty decent at.

I'm kind of rambling and not sure of exactly what I'm trying to say, but I really wish I'd discovered this site or one like it when I was 17 and also didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with life (I still don't and am 24 but am finally forming some ideas). If you're horribly bored then let me know and I'll send you some of the stuff I've written, and also some (legal) free computer game links as well.

[m0vingon]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that you may not be depressed, but you certainly don't sound inspired. Not having any interests of your own, no passion, no drive, may be the problem.

Truly, you're young. Figuring out what you like, what drives and fulfills you is what you're supposed to be doing at this time in life. You may not have figured out what you love, but you have figured out some of the things you don't and that's a start. What could really serve you is exposing yourself to new things in search of that which ignites a spark in you.

I don't know if you'd get into it, but I like to suggest Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning". Or just try searching for essays or discussions about Frankl's writing. Frankl very eloquently points out that we all need a purpose, a driving passion in order to create a meaningful life.

The catch is that no one can do it for you. You have to do this for yourself. Try to do something new today. Go somewhere you've never been, try a new activity, or learn something new. If you embrace this sort of activity every day, you will find something that you can call your own. And if it takes some time, so be it. You're learning the whole way.

Believe that you deserve and have the power to create a wonderful life for yourself and it will happen.

[dennis08]

Originally Posted by mlc82

There has to be something out there that you enjoy.... This a horribly cliched saying, but if you could do anything for the day regardless of how much time/money you had, what would it be? Surely there are things out there you find more fun than laying in bed or staring at the wall, even they don't have you jumping with excitement...

I can be the same way at times in that I don't tend to like doing what most other people do for fun... It drives my girlfriend crazy that I really cannot stand going out to a movie (or most of the movies that come out for that matter), and there are plenty of things that most people I know love doing, which I'd find about as fun as watching the grass grow. I can, however, spend an entire day playing computer games (certain ones at least) and not even notice the time going by, and since visiting Steve's site and this board, have started several little side projects incorporating computer games, which I love, and writing, which I can find tedious but am pretty decent at.

I'm kind of rambling and not sure of exactly what I'm trying to say, but I really wish I'd discovered this site or one like it when I was 17 and also didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with life (I still don't and am 24 but am finally forming some ideas). If you're horribly bored then let me know and I'll send you some of the stuff I've written, and also some (legal) free computer game links as well.

I would like to see what you’ve written but I don't play games = )

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by dennis08

I would like to see what you’ve written but I don't play games = )

Check your PM's