Why do things I used to enjoy now hold no interest to me. I've changed many things in my life.?

I've quit smoking cigs, quit drinking, quit any recreational drugs, I've pretty much quit everything. I just watch the crap that goes on in the world and wonder when we all go up in a huge fireball created by some idiot who believes his religion is THE ONE. It goes on and on, Darfur, Aids, Homless families, corrupt politicians. It reminds me of Nine inch nails song "Hurt" "I hurt myself today to see if I could feel". Some times life is just a huge crap sandwich and everyone gets a bite. Just some of us get more bread than crap, if you know what I mean.

Dear Steve E:

I agree. I know just how you feel.
But I think you are clinically depressed.
You have done a great and difficult job with your life quitting all of your bad habits. There are many of us who struggle our whole lives to quit self-destructive behaviors. It takes a very strong person to succeed at this.
But please, don't hit a home run and forget to run the bases - you need to see a doc and get on an anti-depressant. I was suicidal before I did and just one tiny pill a day has completely changed my life. You really owe it to yourself to do this because life is a mirror, you get what you look for, and if you are depressed, things won't get better without you getting some help. God Bless and take care of yourself!

You need to get out more, meet you friends they will broaden your horizons. Still, I know how you feel, I gave up those things too and boy can life be boring at times.

because your getting older and you know whats good and whats not. your seeing what is happening to other doing what you used to do what you used to do.

Maturity can be a female dog!

It is hard for all of us to watch this so you are not alone. Here is what I advise though, do not read and watch the news EVERY day. I am not saying to be ignorant of the issues of the day but no one needs to see all the horrible things that go on day in and day out. It also sounds like depression is getting to you. Get out and meet some new friends. Go for more walks cause that gets the adrenaline going and makes you feel better. Find a church, coffee shop or some other place you can go meet new people at.Also take up some hobbies. Go check out the library and local arts and crafts stores. Most of all if you are suffering a lot of depression see a doctor. Depression is a medical condition and needs to be treated..

The thing that concerns me about what you said, is "I just hurt myself to see if I could feel". I think you maybe going through a time of depression and need to talk to someone. Your post is very negative about life in general and you need to start focusing on the good things in life. Did all of this come about after you quit smoking or did you quit after you starting feeling down? When your body is addicted to anything...coffee, nicotine, alcohol - when you quit cold turkey, you will feel very negative effects and you may feel like an emotional roller coaster. Either way, don't try to deal with this on your own. See a counselor or therapist to help you start feeling up again.

I feel for you when I read what you have written

fed up, things going wrong all the time, why am I here?
nobody cares, life sucks, bored etc

So how long are you going to keep on your soapbox bitching about eveything?
Do you think anyone is listening?
You are making your own situation worse - nobody will ever help a loser - like you sound.

So what can you do? No one else is going to do anything about the x#-@ you have to put up with.

You are getting no where with the attitude you have now - churchs - ministers - volunteer - no that does not help

It has to be within you to ------or get off the pot.

Can you be a bit more positive?

Imagine that you are walking along a sidewalk with a building on your right - if you can just reach the end of the building and look to the right - there may be something better.
Let's say you say I KNOW THAT SOMETHING BETTER WILL BE THERE
This is confidence - hope - a goal - that something new will be there.
Make things happen - what would you want to write down as the three things in life that you have not done and wish you did?
The idea is to think about changing.

You always wondered what happened to that person who lived next door many years ago? Look them up.

You are sorry about something that happened in your family - upon reflection you realize that it was really your fault - you can't be too 'proud' to fix it
Try to fix it - phone and make amends or try to

Never travelled to Africa - whatever, wish you could have?
Spend time in the library - look at books on Africa.....and feel you are there.

We are all uncut gems in life, and rubbing shoulders with others polish ourselves.
How polished are you? It costs nothing.

Someone does care. I have tried to answer your questions - or was it really a plea for help.

It is your life - you can do what you decide to do with it.
You do not ***** about what others are not doing for you.

What are you going to do today that will be positive?

You are obviously focused on what's wrong and bad in the world.
No matter where you go, you will always have to accept that there will always be some bad things going on somewhere. And you alone, do not have enough power and influence to change and fix everything for everyone, everywhere.
You could choose to focus your energies on what's good and right in the world. You could choose to inspire others to care about what you do, and put forth a collective effort to change some things. You could volunteer your time and energy assisting the physically challenged children (or some other worthwhile cause).
My main point is, you have a choice, You can sit there and complain about what's not right, and how you can't do anything about it. Or, you can be more poractive about being part of a collective effort.
Your choice.

From ur history, I realise that u r 48 old, and r afraid of ur wife and u wanted to consult a psychiarist in Denver, Cutting ur self has been there for few weeks. u have quit so many things. I conclude that u are depressed of not having a job, idle mind is devils workshop. U have to keep ur time occupied constructively. Talk with people do not sit with computers, go out. Hear good songs and not like Hurt and so on. These thoughts come to u as u have nothing to do. WOrk is worship and God. Work if not for money to keep your good self brain active. The activity will release ur tension.

Ok, but I'm confused... are you saying that it's better to get more bread than crap when you take a bite, or the other way around? No, seriously, I don't get it.

BTW, clinical depression takes on many faces, can manifest many different ways, it isn't the hopelessness of the world and the events on the news that's getting you down - it's depression that's painting the world the hue that you see it. Go see a doctor like the rest of us and you'll be on the right track.

i completly agree with you. rock on NIN. the world has been ruined by corrupt polititians and people who do not care, i wish there was something we could do but i believe it is too late and not enough people who are good. we dont need religion we just need good honest people to care. only then will the world get better. stop the war on marijuana it is only depriving sick people of medicine. i hope you will see the better side of life soon and maybe help with some of the issues inthis world as you stated aids, homelessness etc. You are obviously a strong person to quit your habits (cigarettes is a nasty one!) use your strgnth to help others now!

I highly commend you on giving up your addictions, it is extremely courageous and difficult, it is scary too. You stated things you enjoyed no longer hold interest, how about finding new interests that you did not do during your addiction days. After I stopped drinking the thoughts of hurting myself grew intensely, It took me a very long time to chill with the self pity I had after I had become sober. Seeing a therapist is highly recommended for you right now you are in a depressive state and I know from experience that you are thinking well that did not hurt that bad. If you try and fail it will hurt a very long time if you try and succeed people you have never even met may not get to be helped by you and your experiences. I survived two suicide attempts and did the whole hurt myself thing to see how bad it may be, now I am here trying to be a positive influence in others lives. Guess what, I succeed daily, and still feel down due to things going on around me, and in my life. Things get better it may be overnight or may take a long time. Imagine how you will feel when you can talk to someone who is down and you are able to iterate to them that you know where they are coming from and give them the help they need.