I feel alone, do others feel this way?

[bluenight]

Hello everyone, I'm Josh and I live in Sydney and I work 2 jobs on a casual basis. I read a post from this site after searching loneliness and depression and felt it was a good outlet for people

I started having mental health problems 20 years ago when I was roughly 19 years old. Looking back there were signs in my teens and high school years but I was very functional.

I got a degree about a year and a half ago and I still haven't found a job whereas nearly everyone I know who has been finished that long has and even students who graduated months ago are in jobs.

A lot of my anxiety happens in the workplace or in university, it's really been a barrier to finding employment and feeling like I am moving on with my life. I don't know what the solution is to get past this anymore, I've tried a lot of different things, supplements, alternative practices, all kinds of diets, exercise and I've become religious but I don't even know if I'm genuine with my religious beliefs or if i'm just lying to myself, the religious practices help me emotionally and it reduces my anxiety and depression and I feel like I am a better person.

I have no friends, I pretty much live alone and the only people I really feel close to are my parents but they are dissapointed in who I've become so our relationship has been very up and down over the years. I feel very alone at times and quite often I hold little hope for my future.

I just wish I could go back to being normal, like I was when I was younger. Just going to get groceries this afternoon is an effort, I usually get in and out because I feel really wound up after a 10 minute shop in Coles. I'd like to meet a nice girl and see what happens but that just doesn't feel possible with the way I'm feeling.

Thoughts?

[Gambit87]

Hi Josh,

Welcome to the forums! I cant even begin to describe how good of an outlet the forums!

I'm sorry you are feeling like this! Feeling like you're stuck in a rut going no where is a brutal feeling and its hard to get your head around.

Part of my mental health issues was For the longest time I was comparing myself to others. People I know are getting houses, married, new cars, uni degrees etc etc and what was I doing? Ive been in the same dead end job for 10 years now and I haven't been promoted etc my life was going no where.

It took a break down and a psychologist to help me realise that ive got it pretty good. Sure Im currently stuck in a dead end job (for which I am thankful for during this time), I dont have a working car right now and im renting. However the dead end job is paying my rent, food, bills, it buys me the bait to go fishing, it pays for holidays, it lets me take my girlfriend out for a nice meal.

Trust me mate, things might feel gloomy now and you feel like theres no hope but theres always hope! and there is a bright future.

I cant recommend enough talking to your GP and getting a referral to a psychologist. My psychologist has helped me so much and worth every cent.

As hard as it is, don't compare yourself to others and focus on yourself!

Again, as hard as it is - be kind to yourself because you are worth it.

All the best mate!

[bluenight]

Hey Gambit,

Yeh that's true there's always hope but sometimes it's hard to feel any hope and when you feel that way for a while it's pretty awful.

I'm like you, I'm always comparing myself with others, people have their lives set up with families, careers, homes and normalcy. My lifes not that bad, I'm not living in poverty, i'm not homeless, there's a few things I can work on to make my future seem brighter.

You have a good attitude!

Thanks for replying too