Alot of my life feels barren, like i should be doing or experiencing something that i am not. And i am not sure what it is.
Is this considered a symptom of depression?
I get like that sometimes. I’ve also been clinically depressed a number of times. But I’m not sure they go hand in hand.
What do you think you are missing out on? Are you in control of your life? Do you have a social life? Do you have a SO? Do you have a good job?
Get to the “root” of what makes you feel this way and do something about it.
I think a whole lot of people think that they should be doing or experiencing something that they’re not. That in and of itself seems pretty common - who can say that they are completely happy with their lives? So if that’s the extent of it, I wouldn’t worry.
I kind of felt like that before I went travelling. That taught me a lot about what I wanted, what I had, and what I thought I wanted but in fact didn’t. Big life changes can be scary but they can also really sort you out. Think about it.
It’s more a symptom of humanity, I think. Or mortality. Take your pick.
[sub]Though don’t rule out depression, either.[/sub]
There’s never enough time or opportunity to do everything you want, or are curious about, or are interested in. If you live to be 1,000 you still won’t get in on everything you want.
However…
You can always expand your horizons a bit, find somthing new, someone new, somewhere new. Getting up the gumption to actually do it, that’s another story. But if you can manage that, you can find something that, whether you were aware of it or not, you were missing out on a week ago. It may or may not turn out to be the big thing that you were after, but you won’t know until you go find it, and try it on for size.
It don’t have to be huge. It don’t have to be revolutionary. It’s jest gotta be new to you. And it if it ain’t everything you always wanted, well…
There’s always tomorrow, yeah?
Well, here’s what the Diagnostic ans Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association has to say:
Symptoms of Major Depression (MDD)
Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either: (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. (Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.)
depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
The symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.