Low feelings

[heartbroken]

I'm finding it really hard to talk about my feelings and how low I am.  There is no reason for me to be unhappy yet it's hard to explain the profound feeling of loneliness.  I have friends who are good ones - they don't understand but they are shoulders to cry over - but can't talk because I fell like I'm 'putting on' them so I pretend to be happy yet I feel like screaming 'help me'. 

[beautydylan]

  We're here for you, we can all empathise with depression because everyone here has suffered with it. Would you like to talk about it here? 

[heartbroken]

Hard to explain really.  I do feel empty and wonder if this is all life is ever going to offer me.  All I seem to do is get up in the morning, sit around doing nothing except prepare meals then go to bed at 10.30 pm.  I live in a small town and know quite a few neighbours yet I still feel lonely talking to them but hide it behind a smile.  Most seem to be content with their lives and lead active lives.  Even when I out with frineds / family I feel like a loser then feel bad about myself as I have family, friends, a roof over my head, bills paid on time and I have food in the cupboards.  I don't like being alive but I'm not going to do anything stupid.   

[SteveW]

The problem of doing less and less until you reach the point of almost dead stop is massively common in depression. Psychotherapy has its method for trying to overcome this- usually referred to as Behavioural Activation. It is the simplest idea in the world really. The simplest description of it I could find is here:

    http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/behaviouralactivation.asp

If you've a Phd in Physics and find it insultingly simply, please forgive me. There is a slightly more technical Wikipedia page.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_activation

Simple it may be but it can often give mood a sufficient lift that lets someone become able to look at their life and its problematics which
they wouldn't have been capable of otherwise.

[heartbroken]

Thank you for the links.  It's a good idea for me to set 'goals' for getting out and to have friends round. 

[SteveW]

My personal favourite is the "10 most enjoyed things"You make a list of all the things that you used to enjoy and then do a top 10 You start with the thing
you loved most at one and so on. Then you start doing number 10 and gradually work your way up. I once found myself on the most vomit inducing rollercoaster with
someone doing this.