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Life Advice?

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First post, by SpooferJahk

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Hey there Vogons community, I wanted to post a thread that is not completely related to retro computing and gaming... well kinda. I need some life advice, how can I deal with depression when the usual thing that helped me in the past, playing with my DOS related stuff and being around friends is not working? I can't really say I have been experiencing chronic depression all my life but started to experience it late last year and it has been off and on since then, mostly on. Quite a lot of it has to do with having issues obtaining work thanks to not having my driver's license or a car to drive at this moment (You can guess my living situation with that statement...) and the other half involves falling for someone really close to me that sadly left town and probably will never return or really have any feelings towards me.

Yes, I am aware I sound whiny and a lot of people will probably laugh at this but I pose this to those who are willing to help and give advice that may or may not have been on this road before. I am just depressed, losing my will to live and just hate life right now and need some advice to cope or deal with it.

Reply 1 of 17, by obobskivich

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It's pretty early here, so if my response is a little off-kilter I do apologize. However, it sounds to me (and correct me if I'm wrong) that you're fairly young - this isn't meant at all to dismiss that you don't feel well, but on the other hand it's very easy for small things to appear as catastrophes when you're very young. Basically I would encourage you to take a step back and think about your situation more objectively, as it may help better frame things for you. In doing so, take account of things you can control, and those you cannot - worry about, and work on, the things you actually can control. And towards this end, establish realistic and attainable goals (as well as milestones to judge progress) for yourself to meet, such as wanting to drive - that will require learning to drive, receiving a licence, and acquiring a vehicle and all of the associated "stuff" that goes with a vehicle (registration, insurance, etc refer to your local laws for what all is specifically required). Doing all of that in a day may not be possible, but taking steps towards it certainly will be. Setting up various smaller goals will help a feeling of accomplishment, and also keep you on track towards the larger goal. I would then let the rest go (the stuff you can't control), because dwelling on those things does nothing for you except make you feel bad, and what's the point in that?

Of course, if you're not very young, that's a somewhat different discussion. I would probably still tell you mostly the same thing, but add that if you're in a situation where lack of work is meaning an immediate lack of food, heat, etc (especially if you have dependents), I would hope that you live somewhere with municipal services that can provide temporary assistance (yes it may mean filling out tons of paperwork - but look at it this way: you aren't working, which means your job is applying for things 🤣 ). I would look for something like a county human services department as a starting point, but there are likely non-governmental agencies (like churches) that may also provide assistance, even if it's something simple like a food bank or community pantry. It may not solve all of your problems that arise next week, month, year, etc but if it fixes today's crisis, that's good enough.

Either which way, if you're really having thoughts like "losing my will to live" and whatnot, I strongly encourage you to seek qualified real-life help (e.g. a counselor, therapist, clergy, etc). Keep talking to people and keep asking for help until someone actually takes the time to help you (and unfortunately there's only so much you can get online); don't let that fester and brew in isolation. 😊

Reply 2 of 17, by PhilsComputerLab

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I would see a doctor and tell them exactly what you told us. Get some proper help and look after yourself. Recognising you need help is the first step. All the best!

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Reply 3 of 17, by SpooferJahk

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To give some more info, and to kind of give a better idea of the situation, I am currently twenty-two who has an Associates degree looking for work with no success, still living with the folks, and can not get help in the living situation I am in. I mentioned about the vehicle, which may or may not happen soon with the license but that is hard to tell right now. The help though... I have to rely on my folks to get me to a proper treatment facility and sadly they do not believe I need to go there, and do not want me there because they do not want me to commit suicide because of meds. They also do not want me forced on meds... and I do not want to dabble in that either since I have heard and witnessed some horrible horror stories on meds making people go crazy,

Reply 4 of 17, by obobskivich

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SpooferJahk wrote:

To give some more info, and to kind of give a better idea of the situation, I am currently twenty-two who has an Associates degree looking for work with no success, still living with the folks, and can not get help in the living situation I am in. I mentioned about the vehicle, which may or may not happen soon with the license but that is hard to tell right now. The help though... I have to rely on my folks to get me to a proper treatment facility and sadly they do not believe I need to go there, and do not want me there because they do not want me to commit suicide because of meds. They also do not want me forced on meds... and I do not want to dabble in that either since I have heard and witnessed some horrible horror stories on meds making people go crazy,

Your college/university likely has counseling services available; I'd try reaching out there if possible. Phil makes a great point about asking a doctor too - even your GP should be able to steer you somewhere appropriate.

Also, getting help for depression does not always mean full institutionalization (and modern institutionalization does not mean getting locked up in a padded room and having electrodes hooked up and such like in the movies) - think much more like Deanna Troi on Star Trek: TNG than Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. Of course your doctor(s) will have to determine what's right for you and your situation, but modern mental health has come a long way since the 1940s.

Reply 5 of 17, by SpooferJahk

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obobskivich wrote:
SpooferJahk wrote:

To give some more info, and to kind of give a better idea of the situation, I am currently twenty-two who has an Associates degree looking for work with no success, still living with the folks, and can not get help in the living situation I am in. I mentioned about the vehicle, which may or may not happen soon with the license but that is hard to tell right now. The help though... I have to rely on my folks to get me to a proper treatment facility and sadly they do not believe I need to go there, and do not want me there because they do not want me to commit suicide because of meds. They also do not want me forced on meds... and I do not want to dabble in that either since I have heard and witnessed some horrible horror stories on meds making people go crazy,

Your college/university likely has counseling services available; I'd try reaching out there if possible. Phil makes a great point about asking a doctor too - even your GP should be able to steer you somewhere appropriate.

Also, getting help for depression does not always mean full institutionalization (and modern institutionalization does not mean getting locked up in a padded room and having electrodes hooked up and such like in the movies) - think much more like Deanna Troi on Star Trek: TNG than Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. Of course your doctor(s) will have to determine what's right for you and your situation, but modern mental health has come a long way since the 1940s.

Sadly the local college does not have said services and the counseling services I can go to require said transportation from the folks, who I can't really convince otherwise right now. I would ask others I know but I still need some way to be able to afford any of the services if I need to pay for something so I have to rely on the folks if that is the case.

Reply 6 of 17, by kixs

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Go out, do some sports at least three times a week (on your own or guided in a group)... get a driving licence. Stop worrying as usually everything turns out OK. Look at this as a temporary phase and just move on... don't worry about girls, this is usually also over emphasized and analysed... about work, this can be a real pain... but if you can find and do at least some voluntary work in your field of expertise.

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Reply 7 of 17, by SpooferJahk

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kixs wrote:

Go out, do some sports at least three times a week (on your own or guided in a group)... get a driving licence. Stop worrying as usually everything turns out OK. Look at this as a temporary phase and just move on... don't worry about girls, this is usually also over emphasized and analysed... about work, this can be a real pain... but if you can find and do at least some voluntary work in your field of expertise.

Not TOO worried about girls, just something that I am trying to move from with this fondness for one that I know will never happen. It's stupid high school crap really, it's the final thing from it I am trying to move away from but sadly my heart is telling me otherwise, as corny as that sounds. 😜

As for sports... I am not really a sports kind of guy but I do actively work out which kind of is related? Been thinking of learning how to dance since I have developed a pretty big obsession with dance and electronic music sine 2010 or so. I feel like flailing like a maniac when I hear it, and want to transform said flailing into something that does NOT look like someone under the influence being a spaz. 😜

Reply 8 of 17, by PeterLI

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1: Get a DL.
2: Get a car.
3: Get a(ny) job.
4: Get professional help (psychologist/iatrist).
5: Volunteer somewhere.
6: Move to a new environment.

Good luck!

Reply 9 of 17, by Dominus

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Seek professional help!
And as curios as it may seem, don't oversleep, meaning don't sleep more than 8 hours, try to catch as much sun as possible. Especially the college days that have you live mostly at night and sleep during day do not help with depressions.
Also something lately discovered, a very mild depression can be helped by NOT sleeping one night and then return to a relatively normal sleep patern.

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Reply 10 of 17, by Skyscraper

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If nothing of the above works then smoke weed, watch cartoons and play games all day. Even if it isnt as fun as it used to be it will make life bearable. Chanses are that you some time in the not too far future get some new reason to shape up, get a hair cut and get a (then perhaps available) job.

The Institution life has never ended well when it comes to people I know (and used to know), dont go that way.

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Reply 11 of 17, by Stojke

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Try finding joy in things.
Be nice to others even when you know it will hurt. You can never be 100% sure about anything, so dont worry about things. Only latter you will notice what can you actually influence.

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Reply 12 of 17, by obobskivich

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I agree with getting sun - you might also change your diet as well, depending on what you currently eat. I like PeterLI's suggestion to try volunteering as well (and sometimes volunteering can lead to a job!).

Reply 13 of 17, by brostenen

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Well...
I have a long story to tell.... Not going to happen in the open forum.
My advice is to not plan for more than a week. Show who you are by you'r actions.
Think positive and seek profesional help. I just hit rock bottom this year in feb. and just recently on my way up.
Downside is that i get tired from nothing and can only work 4 hours a week.
Yeah... Aspie is a bitch, and have lived 38 years without any diagnose.
The plus side is that life is beautifull and I am a father of two fine and healthy children.

Don't eat stuff off a 15 year old never cleaned cpu cooler.
Those cakes make you sick....

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Reply 14 of 17, by Dreamer_of_the_past

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These are not real problems. It's just in your head.
In order to get this bull crap out of your head you need to make yourself busy.

1. Get a driver license.
2. It's just matter of time before you will get a job.
3. If living with your parents is a problem for you then you can move to your own place after you get your driver license and a job. Although, there is nothing wrong with living with your parents. As a matter of fact, in Europe and Asia many people live with their parents and they do just fine. A friend of mine wants to build a big house for him and his wife and his parents.
4. Get a cat or a dog if you don't have one.
5. Do some volunteer work at your local animal shelter.
6. Find yourself a hobby. If it's retrocomputing then build a few retro machines and invite your friends over for a LAN party.
7. As an option you can also join the military. It should solve all your "problems".

Just focus on getting a driver license for now. You're very young and have plenty of time to change anything that you're not happy with.

Reply 15 of 17, by SpooferJahk

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Hey everyone, I wanted to post and say thanks to the words and things cleared up after posting here, I am currently going to start working very soon and I have a car coming to me with the license test happening as soon as I get it. I am looking into getting therapy since when I got down, I hit hard, but for now I am going to see how it all goes down before getting an evaluation. In the meantime I am feeling great and with the paycheck I might start working on a Windows 98 legacy rig.

Reply 16 of 17, by obobskivich

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SpooferJahk wrote:

Hey everyone, I wanted to post and say thanks to the words and things cleared up after posting here, I am currently going to start working very soon and I have a car coming to me with the license test happening as soon as I get it. I am looking into getting therapy since when I got down, I hit hard, but for now I am going to see how it all goes down before getting an evaluation. In the meantime I am feeling great and with the paycheck I might start working on a Windows 98 legacy rig.

Very glad to hear that you're feeling better, and that things are looking up for you. 😀

Reply 17 of 17, by SpooferJahk

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obobskivich wrote:
SpooferJahk wrote:

Hey everyone, I wanted to post and say thanks to the words and things cleared up after posting here, I am currently going to start working very soon and I have a car coming to me with the license test happening as soon as I get it. I am looking into getting therapy since when I got down, I hit hard, but for now I am going to see how it all goes down before getting an evaluation. In the meantime I am feeling great and with the paycheck I might start working on a Windows 98 legacy rig.

Very glad to hear that you're feeling better, and that things are looking up for you. 😀

They are and I am happy, I can start doing stuff and participate in retro computer building. Probably going to be the newbie posting in the help in the coming months but hey, at least I am interested right? 😜