What can I do?

[tomokoswag]

Hello everyone! I usually don't like to discuss my problems with anyone ,even my own family, but I find myself in a dire situation. Starting in about August of this year I started to panic about my future. I had absolutely no goal or even a direction I wanted to take in life. I believed that this was simply a phase and would pass as soon as I went into college as a Liberal Arts student, something I was pressured into doing by my parents. However, it did not go away, but instead got progressively worse. I began to and am still questioning why I am even going to college and the benefits of living in a world that I seem to be an alien in. It has gotten so bad now that the only thing keeping me alive in this world is to think of how sad and depressed my friends and family may feel if I ever decided to take the route. I have lost all will to live. I eat scantly and more unhealthy, am sleeping more, and am thinking constantly about death. I am at a lost on what to do and seek any guidance you have to give me.

[inthemiddlewithboyz]

First, I would talk to the school counselor...they may be able to help you figure out what you'd like to do if liberal arts is not for you...it may not be too late to change your major.  I think everything else might start to fall into place once you feel like you're actually living for yourself rather than what everyone else wants for you...it's hard to have a direction in a situation like that.  Meds help, but won't get to the root of the issues.  There is no greater liberation than independence!  Try to eat healthy when you do/can eat, and start taking a multivitamin to help with energy.  One of the reasons you're so tired is because you're depriving your body of necessary nutrients--it's just a downward spiral from there if you don't physically take care of yourself.  If the counselor at school is no help, see about talking to another counselor/psychiatrist.  I believe you can take your life back...you're stronger than you think:)

[Paxiled]

Being in panic about your future is pretty common, especially when you reach the age of having to decide what to do with it.  One thing college might do for you is give you a chance to sample different aspects of life so you might find something you love and want to do.  But you're really too young if you're just starting college to be worrying about these decisions -- most people don't have a clue what they want to do in life and that's true at any age.  We work because we need to feed ourselves, but life is artificial now -- we don't have to hunt and gather in order to survive anymore, instead we have to do something that gives us paper (money) to buy what we need instead.   So that part of your thinking is pretty normal and actually pretty prescient.  The other part, having it bother you so much you don't want to live anymore, is the problem.  Did anything happen recently that might have caused such a reaction?  If this has gone on for awhile, it might be time to see a therapist and figure this out.

[specialmom]

Hi there.  Oh my gosh.  I'm so sorry you are feeling so low.  You indeed sound to be suffering depression.  Please know that you are not alone.  There are numbers you can call for immediate intervention if you are continuing to have thoughts of life not being worth it.  Please please seek help.  If you are on campus, the counselor is an excellent resource.  One in every four adults in the US suffers either depression or anxiety.  You are not alone and there is NO shame.  Life CAN get better.  No matter if you have been on the wrong path in terms of where you want to go in life and are not sure how to turn it around, just know that everything can change.  You can take baby steps to carve out the life you want.  Your parents who love you will want you to have peace inside.  Can you trust them to tell them how you are feeling?  Anyone you can confide in in your family?  

If you work on the depression from the stand point of treating it aggressively, you may feel this cloud lift.  Then you can think of how to handle everything else.  

Is there anything I can do to help you?  peace and hugs