I’m confused and need advice please

[Tcoul05]

For the past few years I’ve felt very emotional numb. I haven’t felt happiness or sadness or anger or anything. I don’t know what to do and I’m scared to tell someone because I feel like they will say I’m being dramatic. I don’t know what to do or what it means and I’m so very confused. I’ve lost all interest in activities that I used to enjoy, I’ve hardly have any energy, I don’t have any disire to do anything.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Tcoul05,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for joining us. I believe you when you're saying this and I don't think you are being dramatic at all.

What you are experiencing is actually very common. When we feel numb it's because our brains aren't really able to process or cope with what's happening. It's almost like we are at full capacity, so our brain says 'nope' and shuts out. The problem with shutting out negative feelings (like sadness) is that it also shuts out the good stuff too (like enjoyment).

The good thing about all of this though is that it doesn't have to be permanent. There are lots of different ways to cope and feel better, through self-help things and professional support. If you look at the staying well threads too you might pick up on a few things to try.

I hope this helps to explain things a little. You are in good company here.

rt

[Maree1993]

I read this and had to quickly check I didn’t write this myself.

Couldn’t have explained the way I’ve felt any better.

Only other thing I’ve come to recognise is that I feel like a part of me wants something bad to happen so I have a good excuse to be sad and angry, for it all to be justified.

Do you have family or friends you could speak to?

[Tcoul05]

I wish the same thing a lot too.

I don’t feel confident talking to my family about it. None of them are really people someone wants to speak about things too. I’ve spoken to two of my friends about but they don’t really understand. They think that I can change this easily.

[Maree1993]

Sorry for the slow reply.

I feel the same - no way I can talk to my family. Not because they wouldn’t listen or be supportive, I just don’t feel comfortable doing so. I don’t really get along with my dad and I feel like mum would always be hovering over me once she knew something was up which would drive me insane.

I spoke to one friend maybe over a year ago, which was okay. But it felt weird for me to talk about with her too. I think because nothing has really “gone wrong” it just all sounded stupid in my head and then even more so out loud.

I’ve slowly been working up the courage (well trying) to either book in with my GP or tell my partner. I know what I have to do, it’s just a matter of doing it.

I would encourage you to try and do the same. Maybe you’re a bit braver than me! 🙂

[geoff]

Hello Tcoulo05, and it's good that Maree has replied, and yes it's been a long time and apologise for this late reply as well and do hope you are still checking your thread.

Sometimes people don't want to understand why or how a family member or a friend is feeling if they are depressed, simply because they don't have any answers and haven't been through this themselves or perhaps made a comment which hasn't had any effect, so they decide to leave you and disappear, that's when you feel alone, and rightly so.

Instead, can I suggest that you write down how you are feeling, then if you can see your doctor hand this over to them, this can break the awkwardness when they ask you 'how can I help you?'

I really hope this can be of some assistance.

Geoff.

[Macey2680]

I have not worked in over a month and I start my new job tomorrow and I’m very nervous and I suffer from depression and anxiety what should I do to overcome this