:( title

Andrew Ramos10 said:cosmicviper76... I honestly find myself constantly hoping that people like that actually exist in the world
It’s such a relief that there are so many of us (people 🙂)... because even if most everyone else is just stuck inside their own little bubbles... there always have to be exceptions to the rule 😬

There are always exceptions to the rule, though unfortunately, we usually assume those exceptions are the ones standing right next to us—our so-called "friends."
But the second things go south? They all vanish into thin air.
Real exceptions tend to show up exactly where you least expect them.
All the best,
cheers!

hehe 🙂 kisses

We all deal with ups and downs... Don't fight it—if you're feeling low, just take some time for yourself. Think, cry, veg out, or whatever. It’ll pass much faster than if you try to put up a front and pretend everything is sunshine and rainbows. Honestly, I find it helpful—I actually enjoy a bit of self-pity sometimes. Once the tears subside, I feel refreshed, kind of like how everything looks after a summer rainstorm... clear, crisp, and exactly how it should be.

feralhound55 said:We all deal with ups and downs... Don't fight it—if you're feeling low, just take some time for yourself. Think, cry, veg out, or whatever. It’ll pass much faster than if you try to put up a front and pretend everything is sunshine and rainbows. Honestly, I find it helpful—I actually enjoy a bit of self-pity sometimes. Once the tears subside, I feel refreshed, kind of like how everything looks after a summer rainstorm... clear, crisp, and exactly how it should be.

Solid approach.👍
I usually go with "rational introspection with a side of irony."😁 When the depression hits, I treat it like a guest dropping by. I'm genuinely curious about what kind of "gifts" it's bringing and what new things it'll reveal about me. At the same time, I can't help making fun of myself while I try to rationalize it all, basically grading my moods (like, "this one's a heavy hitter, but at least it's short-lived" or "really? this is the best we can do?"). Just trying to find the silver lining, I guess. 🙂

Oh, tell me about it...
I have to admit, there’s a certain comfort I find in wallowing in my own self-pity sometimes...
But then again, not really...
Because the truth is, I don't want to be alone...
That’s actually what scares me more than anything else in this world...
Sometimes I even catch myself having these little fantasies... like when I'm traveling on an Amtrak train or something... I imagine the doors getting stuck and forcing us all to stay together until someone fixes it...
There's just something fascinating about those kinds of situations... everyone gets a little panicked and starts rambling about how they're going to miss their connection or how they'll be late for work... and things like that...
Am I totally losing it?? hehehe

Honestly, just cut it out with all this constant complaining about nothing. I guess you guys don't realize how lucky you actually are. If you were truly, deeply SICK—and I mean genuinely struggling—you’d see that despite having endless opportunities laid out before you, you wouldn't even be able to enjoy them because you'd be too broken to function. You're basically paralyzed by it.

In this day and age, people have everything handed to them on a silver platter, yet they don't appreciate a single bit of it. It's like they've lost all sense of purpose and just spiral straight into depression instead.

What’s so wrong with feeling down when everything just seems to be going wrong... and then letting myself grieve like I am
just take a breather...
all I want is a little bit of tenderness and some attention
that's all
even if I am feeling under the weather right now

Donna Hill8 said:Honestly, just cut it out with all this constant complaining about nothing. I guess you guys don't realize how lucky you actually are. If you were truly, deeply SICK—and I mean genuinely struggling—you’d see that despite having endless opportunities laid out before you, you wouldn't even be able to enjoy them because you'd be too broken to function. You're basically paralyzed by it.

In this day and age, people have everything handed to them on a silver platter, yet they don't appreciate a single bit of it. It's like they've lost all sense of purpose and just spiral straight into depression instead.

So you’re going to sit here and lecture me about "limitless possibilities" and how we’re living in this supposedly "modern era" here in the Middle East? Please. It isn't exactly a utopia, but it certainly isn't some perfect, golden age either. Honestly, I think you have zero capacity for appreciating what other people actually deal with, yet you somehow manage to overinflate your own struggles. It feels a little hypocritical, if I'm being blunt.

Andrew Ramos10, you’ve got a ton of solid advice right here. Things will turn around eventually, obviously. Chin up. 👍

Donna Hill8 said:Honestly, just cut it out with all this constant complaining about nothing. I guess you guys don't realize how lucky you actually are. If you were truly, deeply SICK—and I mean genuinely struggling—you’d see that despite having endless opportunities laid out before you, you wouldn't even be able to enjoy them because you'd be too broken to function. You're basically paralyzed by it.

In this day and age, people have everything handed to them on a silver platter, yet they don't appreciate a single bit of it. It's like they've lost all sense of purpose and just spiral straight into depression instead.

It isn’t quite as simple as you're making it out to be. Even someone struggling with mental illness experiences both good and bad moments, just like anyone else. Mood swings are a universal part of the human experience; everyone’s disposition shifts based on the unpredictable nature of life, which brings something new—whether positive or negative—to everyone's doorstep every single day.

Andrew Ramos10 said:What’s so wrong with feeling down when everything just seems to be going wrong... and then letting myself grieve like I am
just take a breather...
all I want is a little bit of tenderness and some attention
that's all
even if I am feeling under the weather right now

Look, I’m not saying you’re actually sick, I'm just suggesting you try to be happy that you aren't, and maybe realize the world isn't such a bad place
I mean, if life didn't have its low points, those high moments wouldn't even feel like anything, right? Then there wouldn't be any happiness at all

So, what's really weighing on you? Is it love? Work? Friends? Or is it just one of those vague, heavy moods where nothing specific is the culprit?

Donna Hill8 said:Look, I’m not saying you’re actually sick, I'm just suggesting you try to be happy that you aren't, and maybe realize the world isn't such a bad place
I mean, if life didn't have its low points, those high moments wouldn't even feel like anything, right? Then there wouldn't be any happiness at all

So, what's really weighing on you? Is it love? Work? Friends? Or is it just one of those vague, heavy moods where nothing specific is the culprit?

Well, I was just writing in that style where you hope to be dealing with some struggles, but at least you're surrounded by good people and everything is okay... you know, just a wish...
You make a good point, though... 😢 I guess I just want... a little more love in my life...
And I don't mean specifically romantic love... just, you know, general love for everyone and everything.

Andrew Ramos10 said:Well, I was just writing in that style where you hope to be dealing with some struggles, but at least you're surrounded by good people and everything is okay... you know, just a wish...
You make a good point, though... 😢 I guess I just want... a little more love in my life...
And I don't mean specifically romantic love... just, you know, general love for everyone and everything.

Look, if I’m being totally honest, I don't really have any actual close friends. It's just a handful of acquaintances, and even they are pretty scarce.
People have let me down so many times that, eventually, I just started finding everyone incredibly irritating.
I didn't appreciate the love my family gave me back then; I guess I was being pretty arrogant.
Maybe all of that is finally catching up to me now.

Now that I'm dealing with some pretty heavy health issues, I find myself looking back at everything—it’s almost funny how much I cried when I broke up with my ex.

It feels like I need people less and less.
They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and honestly, I feel like that's been true for me in an overwhelming way.

I used to be so emotionally fragile, but now? People's actions don't even phase me anymore. It's like I've developed this thick skin; I just don't get hurt as easily.

I've learned how to be alone, and I suppose that serves as a pretty effective shield.

Heh... people tell me all the time that I’m a total lone wolf
but there are these moments where I can't help but wonder if things could actually be different
most of the time, I just get hit by these sudden waves of crying...
and I’m not even forcing it... I’ll just remember something and the tears start flowing on their own... you know, just rolling down my face and feeling them slide...
I guess I’m just scared of being alone, and scared that maybe there's something not quite right inside my head

Well, Donna Hill8, you’re sounding like a bit of a misanthrope. That’s a dangerous path to walk. Eventually, you’re going to need a shoulder to lean on, and if you keep this up, you won't find anyone standing there. Try having a little more faith in people. We all stumble, sure, but we aren't all inherently bad.

Andrew Ramos10 said:Heh... people tell me all the time that I’m a total lone wolf
but there are these moments where I can't help but wonder if things could actually be different
most of the time, I just get hit by these sudden waves of crying...
and I’m not even forcing it... I’ll just remember something and the tears start flowing on their own... you know, just rolling down my face and feeling them slide...
I guess I’m just scared of being alone, and scared that maybe there's something not quite right inside my head

Your head is perfectly fine. You're just hungry for a kindred spirit. That person will show up. You're young; there's no rush. Just try not to overthink it or spend all your time waiting for them. They tend to arrive right when you least expect it.

Now I’m just sitting here feeling incredibly blue because I’ve been listening to some Irish folk music, and it makes me feel like I might never actually get to experience Ireland in person myself...
I honestly can't put my finger on why, but I have such a deep, overwhelming desire to travel to Ireland one day.

Look, you’ll make it over to Ireland one day...
If you stay focused on your studies, finish your degree, land a decent job, and save up for the trip, it'll happen.
I don't see the issue here. 🙂

And then someone had the audacity to sarcastically remark to me about how I was talking about the "endless possibilities found in the Middle East."

Honestly, if you can't find a way to be happy, it doesn't matter if you're in Ibiza, Cuba, Jamaica, NYC, Tokyo, London, or even on Mars...

Personally, I actually enjoy life in the States—just hop over to the coast, it's a quick trip... plus you've got all of Europe nearby, or even the East Coast, the absolute chaos of New York City, Turkey...

You just have to know how to have fun, how to actually live, and above all, you need good company to do all that stuff (not that I really give a damn😛)

Honestly, I don't even know anymore...
But anyway, I’ve finally managed to calm my nerves a bit
It's such a gorgeous day out, I'm just sitting here listening to some music and realizing I really need to run out and grab some pads
Just trying to focus on the bright side...

Still, I can't help but dream about visiting Ireland one day ........... oh please God, let meee go to Ireland !!!!!!!!

How long does this weight usually sit on you? Are these depressive episodes a regular thing for you, or just hit out of nowhere? Have you ever actually reached out to anyone—like, tried talking to a friend or even family members about what’s going on?

Andrew Ramos10 said:I honestly didn't even know how to come up with a title for this... I just feel so incredibly low right now... just completely useless.
It feels like everything I touch in this life just falls apart. My whole existence feels like one big, continuous mess. There was a time when I truly believed that if I just worked hard enough, I could actually achieve my dreams and, you know, make something of myself...
But today? Today, the thing holding me back is this crushing feeling that I’m absolutely nothing... just a tiny, insignificant speck in the universe.
It's like all those simple, beautiful things that bring people joy are just out of my reach... family, friends, everything... they seem too good for someone like me.
I don't even have the energy to try anymore.
Sometimes this wave of hopelessness hits me so hard that I just want to crawl into a dark corner and hide from the world...
Even as I'm typing this out, the tears are just flowing... I feel so pathetic.
I find myself wondering if I'm secretly just looking for someone to pity me... why can't I just grit my teeth and fight through it like everyone else does?
I know life isn't easy for anyone else either...
But for me, the urge to just retreat and shut everyone out is overwhelming... is it normal for everyone to hit these lows sometimes?
I really don't know...
Please, don't start throwing advice at me... I'm not depressed, I'm not on any medication, nothing like that.
I just want to hear your stories... tell me about the times you felt deeply sad and felt like nobody in the world actually cared about you.

Man... my story on this is pretty much the same old song and dance every single time, which honestly gets exhausting... whenever I’m hitting rock bottom, I just put on this blank, stone-faced mask, pretend everything is perfectly fine, and try to white-knuckle my way through it all by myself. Nobody has any clue what's actually brewing under the surface... and obviously, playing the "I'm fine" card never actually fixes anything; it just lets the pressure build until everything starts spiraling even harder.

Honestly, I don't stay stable for very long; my moods tend to swing quite frequently
which, let’s be real, isn't exactly something you'd brag about... and when things take a turn for the worse... man, they get incredibly dark
but then, on those days where everything feels "rosy"... I just find myself completely indifferent to everything, wondering why everyone else seems so wound up

Ah, Nex... I honestly can't decide if it's smarter to just keep it all bottled up inside...
I know guys can be a bit more guarded when it comes to their own personal struggles
But hey, if nothing else... maybe it's actually alright to share your problems with the folks here on the forum to see if you can pick up a few pieces of advice