I had a similar experience when I was in school. I ended up going on prozac for a few months, and it made all the difference in the world. As others have suggested, make an appointment with a psychiatrist and see what they can offer you. It doesn't necessarily have to be pharmaceutical in nature.
Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
21–30 of 53 posts
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#22Sounds like you're burnt out. A form of depression (well to me). I've had it many times due to heavy/obsessive work towards something, eg a school assignment from start to due date and from morning to late only to get a B mark was a bit insulting. Anyhow, for each burn out, I could not simply get over it. I know it's temporary but can't break out of it sooner than later.
However, recently as of last year, I've started doing exercise every day, a consistent sleep pattern and my diet is pretty healthy. As for social links, I joined a Volleyball club. Despite being deaf, I get game challenges, exercise and a chance to chat a bit. Helps reduce the chance of burnout, or at least I feel fit.
If you're not feeling very motivated, do something that normally motivates you for a bit. Do you like the movies? Put in a movie, like Amelie for example. You are unlikely to laugh but it's a change of pace. Maybe play Starcraft 2?
Hope you recover soon.
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#23I went through the same thing. The best advice I can give you now is to go chiropractor that specializes in many different types of medicines. DO NOT go to a regular MD - they will not help you any.
Depression is a symptom, and can be caused by a variety of factors. You need someone who is unbiased and well educated, and a well-rounded chiropractor is a great starting point.
Nutritional Deficiencies Toxicity Malfunctioning (thyroid, adrenal)
these are all major possible contributing factors that need to be checked.
You can email me at anony304@gmail.com and I'll help you try to figure out the root. Detail in your symptoms helps too (e.g. do you get dizzy when you stand up, are you lethargic, digestive irregularities, etc).
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#241. take up the drinking/partying lifestyle again, if only occasionally - being "holed up" is not gonna improve yr mood/motivation, and there's evidence that sleep deprivation can improve mood temporarily.
2. get some basic physical testing done by a doctor in order to eliminate the possibility of conditions like anaemia or a thyroid problem
3. speak to a doctor/psychiatrist - preferably the latter - about the possibility of you suffering from depression/anxiety. be cautious of medication, especially in the US, but by no means completely discount it as an option.
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#25Sorry about how you are feeling. Was a bit depressed when I was quite alone in the UK.
I felt really better when I called home, achieved a little success or just took a break.
Are you at/near home? If not, visit home and some childhood friends.
Visit the hospital and you will see how lucky you are to be healthy,
I believe depression is just a state of mind and you are in control.
Just kow that life is generally not supposed to be serious.
I hope you feel better soon.
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#26actually, two more important points:
1. do NOT, under ANY circumstances, resort to "alternative" - i.e. clinically and scientifically invalid - medicine. there's absolutely no evidence that chiropractic, for example, could be of any use to you.
2. while you have several symptoms in common w/ depression don't take too seriously the people here declaring that it's that - it could be, but there are a number of other conditions - namely anxiety - which overlap w/ it, and the average HN reader isn't qualified to tell them apart.
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#27I went through the same thing. The best advice I can give you now is to go chiropractor that specializes in many different types of medicines. DO NOT go to a regular MD - they will not help you any. Depression is a symptom, and can be caused by a variety of factors. You need someone who is unbiased and well educated, and a well-rounded chiropractor is a great starting point. Nutritional Deficiencies Toxicity Malfunct…
Actually I think I could probably help you or at least narrow the root problem if you emailed me. It's a long dark road when you feel overwhelmed by information.
I've seen so many doctors that did nothing to help me - not for any other reason but the fact that they were uninformed, or biased. Read so many books about depression cures that were curing a root that was different from mine. In that time I'm learned a lot about medicine and what's important. If I could pass that knowledge on to someone else I'd be happy to do it.
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#28Sorry about how you are feeling. Was a bit depressed when I was quite alone in the UK. I felt really better when I called home, achieved a little success or just took a break. Are you at/near home? If not, visit home and some childhood friends. Visit the hospital and you will see how lucky you are to be healthy, I believe depression is just a state of mind and you are in control. Just kow that life is generally not s…
Depression is not a state of mind. That's not what depression is.
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#29There are already great suggestions here I think, and I also echo the medical route if you think it's appropriate. I want to add another possibility, because with a broad enough range of options you might find something quite effective.
It occurs to me you may be under challenged. It seems your academic life comes easy enough for you to simply go through the motions, allowing for listlessness to set in. To remedy that I'd find some challenge to take you out of your comfort zone like a marathon, for example, or trying to master something such as a game/sport or new skill. Done correctly, you won't really have time to stare at a screen for 30 minutes. Find something constructive that interests you. If it's something that scares you (because you may fail) even better. It may just be that you're in a rut and need to be shaken out of it. One thing is for sure: you can't regularly challenge yourself to scary things outside your comfort zone, succeed in such enterprises and remain depressed all the while. At least I sincerely doubt it.
Good luck!
Re: Ask HN: Depression, Loss of Motivation, Feeling Lost. Please Help
#30You really should see a professional -- do it right away (why suffer further?) This may be a chemical thing you can't control. Or something else. Fixing it yourself could work, but it could not. Go to a doctor or mental health counselor first; they will be able to help or refer you to someone who can. It's really important -- it could be caused by many, many things, and a doctor/mental health professional will be able to help figure this out/eliminate other causes.
Please make an appointment with whatever you have available at your school today (all colleges should have these services).
BTW: You're extremely brave to reach out -- my hat's off to you! But don't stop here! Take the extra step to get the help you need -- you do deserve it.