During the pandemic quarantine, I took up the guitar, but unlike most Covid hobbies, I’ve stuck with it, and gotten pretty good.
Getting good at something difficult results in great feelings, as you can imagine, but I wasn’t prepared for how much better it made me feel. My self-esteem and confidence went through the roof, and made me realize that I’ve probably been operating under a low-grade depression for my entire life.
Sometimes we’re depressed and don’t even know it. You come to accept that it’s just how you feel, and that’s your life. You don’t even know it can be better, until it is.
wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
I hate to be the old dude in these conversations — but yeah… sometimes you just fucking deal. 90% of my life is depression, suicidal ideation, and intrusive thoughts. Ten percent is that I’m the life of the party, the fun guy at work. Honestly, in meetings, when it’s been dark, execs turn to me and say, “Wow, silver lining?”
And I deliver.
So… I don’t complain. I raise a family. I exercise. I see depression as the norm. Why would I think anything else if it is all I have ever known?
And yet of course there are the brief moments of satisfaction when I am doing service for others — which is how I see my work, which makes my life meaningful.
Cure for depression? Ain’t one. But there is service, which is the cure for meaninglessness.
doingthestuff@lemy.lol 11 hours ago
People are generally missing service in their lives. Thanks for the comment, from another old guy.
distinctivecoffee@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 hours ago
You can get meds for this. If you’re on them and this is where you’re at, I’m sorry. But I was like you. I could function.
Then I needed meds for something else, and they stuck me on Wellbutrin, which can be perscribed to address depression or my other issue.
I came back to the doc and she asked if it had helped with my other problem. “Nope, but can I stay on?”
“Why?”
“Uh, turns out wanting to be hit by a bus isn’t normal, and I had just assumed it was, and had no idea I was dealing with that constant mental hellhole until it went away.”
She let me stay on the Wellbutrin.
malware@lemmy.zip 10 hours ago
I wish I had a family, maybe life would be worth living.
Sculptor9157@sh.itjust.works 6 hours ago
You can make a family with friends and neighbors and helping out some organizations/volunteers doing things you care about. As you surround yourself with folks who share your interests, the family aspect takes shape.
wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
Where are you doing service?