Feeling lost

[Scott1995]

i don’t know where to start, lately I haven’t been feeling myself. I look in the mirror and don’t even recognise myself. I haven’t been my happy self, I don’t know what I’m doing anymore I just feel lost. I don’t feel like I’m doing a good enough job, providing for my partner and I. I have looked into therapy but we are currently not in a position to afford it. I’m feel like I’m failing and I’m starting to get to the point I don’t know what to do anymore 

[indigo22]

Hi Scott1995,

Welcome and thank you for reaching out to us.

I am sorry to hear how you have been feeling lately, it's not easy to pull yourself out of those feelings.

I also know it is not always easy to find the finances to see a counsellor. There are a few options that you could look into that may help:

Have you talked with your GP about how you are feeling? They are able to arrange a mental health plan, however there would still be some outlay, I don't know if this option would be more affordable for you or not.

Using the helplines that are listed below is another option, aside from talking to a professional in real time, they should be able to advise options in your area that may be suitable for you.

There are Social Workers and Mental Health Workers that you can see at no cost through some clinics and hospitals, your GP or the helplines should be able to advise you on this. They may be worth looking into to at least get the counselling ball rolling.

I would like to assure you that you are not failing, you are just needing some help to figure out where these feelings and emotions are stemming from. Quite often it is something from the past that we have buried and not dealt with that is the cause.

Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636

Lifeline - 13 11 14

Medicare Mental Health (previously Head to Health) - 1800 595 212

I would be interested in hearing how you go with the helplines should you wish to let me know and I will be around whenever you want to talk, just reply to this message and I will get a notification.

Take good care of yourself,

indigo

[therising]

Hi Scott

I'm glad you've met with indigo, someone who has been a great guide for many over the years here on the forums. Indigo offers a whole number of other guides to consider. It took me decades to finally work out that when I'm feeling completely and utterly lost, to the point of it feeling deeply depressing at times, it's time to look for a guide or guidance. With finding a physical destination in our travels, sometimes there's a need to stop and ask someone for directions. I find mentally, emotionally and even in a soulful sense the same applies in life.

There can be so many questions when feeling completely and utterly lost. I find some of them to include

• 'How did I get here?' or 'How did I reach this point?'. Hindsight or a look in the review mirror can lead us to make more sense of things. What led up to us finding our self where we are in life can generate a lot of 'Aha!' or 'It all makes complete sense!' moments
• 'Where the heck am I going or heading?' can be another question. Is it time to establish solid goals/destinations to reach? What do they need to look and feel like?
• 'How's my relationship with my traveling companion/partner going?'. Are they inspiring me, helping me gain a sense of direction, leading me to imagine exciting or energising goals/destinations etc?
• Is it time to stop and re-energise/refuel in ways I really need to and maybe in ways I've never been conscious of before?'. While I'm a romantic at heart, in soulful ways, I'm also a realist. One way of looking at our self is...we're a big fleshy bag of energy systems (cardio vascular, endocrine, muscular etc) and chemical reactions. Very unromantic indeed. We need certain types of energy input and energetic chemical reactions. A lack of emotion can sometimes come down to a lack of energy in motion. Can't feel what we haven't got enough of. Lot's of questions when it comes to not feeling energising amounts of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, B12, iron, estrogen, testosterone etc. Some of the questions, 'Is there not enough of a particular type of chemistry? What's the chemistry that's missing or in low amounts? Why don't I have it? How can I gain it?' and so on
• 'How did I go so far off track?' or 'What detours did I take, without realising, that have led me to where I am?'

So many questions beyond this list of things we can be left wondering about.

While it doesn't make things suddenly and miraculously easier, sometimes the thought 'Okay, I know I'm completely and utterly lost and need to ask for directions' can be the first step toward me finding the best way forward. Here you are, asking for directions. You're off to a good start.