r/YouShouldKnow • u/OkAccess6128 • 10d ago
Other YSK: It's normal to go through periods where life feels meaningless, especially during major life changes or stressful times.
Why YSK: Sometimes life can suddenly feel empty or like it has no meaning, especially if you've been under a lot of stress, dealing with a big life change, grieving, feeling burnt out, or just mentally overloaded. It doesn't automatically mean something is seriously wrong with you.
Sometimes your brain just needs a break. Getting enough rest, taking some time away from work or constant pressure, spending time with people you care about, or doing something you genuinely enjoy can help you feel more like yourself again.
That said, if this feeling sticks around for a long time, keeps getting worse, or starts affecting your day-to-day life, it's a good idea to talk to a health-care professional.
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u/Wacko_97 10d ago
In this phase, does anyone think that their brain has stopped working? I cannot think cohesively, can't talk with a good vocabulary and genuinely think my IQ has fallen.
I'm hoping this isn't permanent. It feels like brain fog on steroids. I'm starting to think it's ADHD, but I don't even have access to a therapist
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u/OkAccess6128 10d ago
I can relate to that. For the past couple of years I've been sleeping less than I probably should because I've been learning new things and working on my own projects. I've also become a lot more isolated during that time, and there are days when my mind feels so cluttered and overwhelmed that it's hard to think clearly, it feels like my capability to think clearly and logically have degraded.
For me, I just take some time off because right now I can afford to, I get some proper rest, watch or do something I genuinely enjoy, and then come back to work. I can't say that's what's happening in your case, but I wanted to mention it because I know how unsettling that feeling can be.
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u/SummerOfMayhem 9d ago
I am here. I am unable to work and I don't have a car. I have insomnia. Life is incredibly hard and difficult to find a reason to get out of bed every day. Please, count every good thing and the tiniest blessings in life.
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
Thank you for responding, I'll try taking care of myself more and sleep
I am so overwhelmed with academics/career/social that I worry about my future and if I can ever do well35
u/-Lambert- 9d ago
Yes, it can definitely happen. During tough periods or depression brain can slow down to save energy if it doesn't see anything worth spending that energy on I think. I definitely worry about impaired concentration, memory loss and how harder it is to think but as depression goes away it should too improve
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u/doogooru 9d ago
I have this too.. so scrared it can be permanent. I'm so tired, I wanna go back, I was so smart and active in the past... no energy
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
same. I feel exhausted and am confused about how and why this happened. Off topic, but not having a support system makes this even worse
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u/Chance-Attitude3792 10d ago
https://www.adxs.org/en/page/296/large-adhd-symptom-test
you can check out this symptom test to get an idea if it could be ADHD. takes 30mins or so
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u/alienblue89 9d ago
There’s something hilariously ironic about an ADHD test that takes over half an hour.
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u/Bridgebrain 9d ago
My favorite are the autism assessments which are obnoxiously reductive (1-5 do you ever experience otherness?). I feel like if you take personal offense at the nature of the test it's the main indicator that you have it.
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u/NUTJOB_7814 9d ago
30/43 symptoms. Anything above 26% is indicative of strong signs of ADHD and I got 70%...
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u/MrXonte 9d ago
I did a bunch of those tests years ago, always scored super high. Decided i should get diagnosed. Forgot, and whenever i did remember i didnt do it right then or make a reminder so i forgot again. Then years later i got a girlfriend studying psychology and she also told me, hey you should get tested. Also forgot again. The i went to therapy for an unrelated issue, and in the second or third session my therapist asked me if i ever did an adhd test, and she gave me a physical card with contact details for diagnosis. Forgot again for a few weeks until i looked at that card again and finally got my diagnosis, at 31 😂
Also when i got diagnosed i was fully expecting a careful suggestion of maybe trying adhd meds from the doctor but instead they were like "your adhd is pretty severe, you should really get asap meds, heres some doctors that can prescribe them"
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u/DatBoiSaix 9d ago
37/43, but here in my city in France I can't find an appointment to get the diagnostic
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u/Chance-Attitude3792 9d ago
hope you can find someone soon, in Germanys its tough as well. Had to pay for it myself, otherwise I wouldve had to wait a year or longer
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
Thanks for this test
I just took it and got a score of 32/43 lol. At least it's more or less confirmed now, and I will try to deal with this to the best of my abilities.6
u/leighannq 9d ago
Absolutely! I just went through a few tough years and been coming out of it recently. I do have ADHD, and I noticed right away it had gotten to be an issue during this period, where I found it very hard to manage. Possible maybe you have it but have managed it until now, talking with someone can definitely help. Hang in there ❤️
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
thank you, its comforting to hear people having gone through this and making it through
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u/TheSonOfDisaster 9d ago
I legitimately feel like this pretty often.
I'm glad someone else out there has a similar sensation. Well glad is the wrong word, but it's a strange comfort that this kind of brain fog and disordered thinking is occurring to other folks than just myself.
I do think it's something to do with ADHD on my own end as well.
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
yes same, its so relieving when you find someone else going through the same thing as you.
And trust me, theres plenty of people who do go through this.
We will also figure it out and get better5
u/lucid-currency 9d ago
I have ADHD and I've noticed my vocabulary and (all 5) languages usage fall off a cliff in the last year.
My brain fog mostly persists despite ADHD meds. I would recommend you look into your sleep quality and consult a doctor for sleep apnea.
The 3 basic things required before the medication can work well are sleep, diet, and exercise. I would recommend you try to get these in order while you figure out your diagnosis and/or medication.
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
yes my schedule and lifestyle has gotten worse within this period.
I will fix these 3, thanks5
u/kizofieva 9d ago
it could be adhd, it could be autistic burnout, it could be tons of things, but reading too much about any of them could influence your ability to evaluate yourself, because you'll start looking to draw specific conclusions rather than neutrally making note of your symptoms
consider making a list of all your symptoms, and adding to it any time you think of something else. then, when you are able to talk to a professional, you'll have unbiased information that could help them get off to a better start with you than if you go down the path for treatment of one condition, fail to improve, and repeat.
all that being said, everyone is different, so none of this may work for you. I hope you find something that does as soon as possible. take care
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
thank you so much.
I will write all my symptoms and their effects, thats great advice.Also I'll probably start journaling about how my day goes and what I did. Maybe I'll find some patterns and figure something out
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u/Always_Squeaky_Wheel 9d ago
It didn’t really work out for me but there are online therapy sessions available, give it a shot
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u/Brooke_Brooke 8d ago
I am currently going through the most stressful year of my life. A divorce that has taken a turn for the worse and dealing with my brother who is addict and abusing his wife. The abuse my brother is putting his wife through has triggered my PTSD from an incredibly traumatic event that happened to me about ten years ago.
I am educated and what I would consider a somewhat intelligent person. I have been a train wreck. I've developed sleeping issues and have begun sleepwalking, can't regulate my emotions, and am no longer able to socialize well with coworkers and peers. I can hardly handle daily tasks let alone any minor problem that comes up. It's been absolutly devastating.
While I don't have any answers for you because I am still in the thick of it I wanted to let you know that your not alone. I hope that this passes and I can get back to the person I was before because I truly feel like I've lost myself and my ability to properly function in life.
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u/Wacko_97 5d ago
Thank you for your courage and sharing this.
I too can no longer regulate my emotions, and my ability to work/study has dwindled.
Hopefully we'll heal with time4
u/FardoBaggins 9d ago
Psychology is biology. Maybe something needs tuning physically. Could be age, an organ (had my gallbladder removed due to gallstones and it drastically improved my anxiety that I had for years and years as it was always telling my nervous system something was wrong).
If it isn’t anything physical of the sort a professional will help in most cases.
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u/Wacko_97 9d ago
I recently had some blood tests done and it was all alright. But this is scary and maybe I'll get a further diagnosis, thanks
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u/FardoBaggins 8d ago
it seems scary but don't let it get you too anxious. statistically, 85% of what we worry about don't happen.
I'm just saying, age, lifestyle, environment and other things affect our mental state more than we think, and setting a good foundation like a good diet with being active and taking breaks can help us bounce back better mentally.
I was lucky I had a gallbladder attack otherwise I wouldn't have known what was giving me daily low grade anxiety.
Also, I would suggest taking creatine. It helps the brain function better, not just for your muscles but it does that too.
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u/juicif3r 8d ago
Exercise (and probably a combination of being outside) helped me when I get like this. I need to exercise pretty regularly and recently I had injured my hip some and took a week and a half off to rest. I could feel my brain getting foggier and slower towards the end of this period. As soon as my hip was back to normal I went for a run and came back with my brain feeling refreshed.
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u/Dunadain_ 10d ago
Maybe not very revelatory, I'm kind of glad I read this today.
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u/OkAccess6128 10d ago
Actually I myself needed to read it, but glad that I am not the only one.
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u/New_Teach_9700 10d ago
I also needed to read this today. I had to say goodbye to my sweet beautiful dog on Friday and am struggling with it.
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u/HoldMyPoodle6280 9d ago
I just reached a year after losing my pet of 14 years. I wanted to say not only that I'm sorry, but that free writing about the experience has helped me so much.
Helped get my feelings out of my body, just typing them out on my pc while silently crying for a few hours. Felt a lot lighter after that, maybe it could help you as well.
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u/_Happy_Sisyphus_ 9d ago
So sorry for your loss. So hard and surreal to lose a pet.
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u/Talk-O-Boy 9d ago
I’m not trying to refute you, but can I ask where you got this info from? Just in case I wanted to do further reading?
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u/_Floydimus 9d ago
Screenshot-ing this for later reference.
This was much needed. Thank you kind stranger.
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u/ExpensiveLeather69 10d ago
Feels better to know were all in this meaningless existence ✨together✨
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u/trophyfriend 10d ago
Right? 😭 One of those things that feels obvious but gosh, it’s very easy to forget when you’re in the thick of it
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u/VanillaRadonNukaCola 9d ago
Same, been in think kind of funk for a bit.
Trying to get back into living love for myself.
Wearing the clothes I'm holding off on, cleaning my room up for my own happiness, being honest with others when I'm not feeling great, instead of saying "yeah I'm good!"
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u/Dunadain_ 9d ago
It kind of reminds me of "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar". Like, we don't need to contextualize everything. Sometimes the wisdom to do less, instead of more, is all we need.
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u/shindleria 10d ago
I refer to this period as birth to death
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u/chromatophoreskin 10d ago
Right. It’s normal for life to feel predominantly meaningless and stressful contrasted by occasional periods of fulfillment and relief. It’s what makes the good times so precious.
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u/wir8905t0437 9d ago
> contrasted by occasional periods of fulfillment and relief
* not guaranteed.
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u/crownedlaurels176 9d ago
I feel the same way, and I have persistent depressive disorder. I was shocked to discover this was not a universal experience.
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u/PeoplePersonn 10d ago
Pre-birth is the best. Life was about just swimming. Good days.
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u/Charming-Standard-84 10d ago
Reminds me of that scene where Homer is swimming in his mother's womb all happy and joyous and then being yanked into existence by a doctor into a cold room filled with bright lights and strangers while he was crying to go back.
Almost feels like an alien abduction. Which it is.
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u/justwalkingalonghere 10d ago
I'm always interested to hear about people who do think it has meaning though.
Well anything outside of the idea that life is an audition for an afterlife
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u/North_Library3206 9d ago
According to the philpapers survey only 16% of academic philosophers (in the sample at least) believe that the meaning of life is nonexistent (compared to 33% who believe it's subjective and 32% who believe it's objective). While I don't want to fall to the appeal authority fallacy, I'd say that probably means that some extremely good arguments for the meaning of life have been put forward. This SEP entry on the meaning of life would probably be a good place to start.
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u/MyvaJynaherz 9d ago
I mean, you're not wrong.
Life is what you decide to make of it mixed with circumstances beyond your control. For some people the math just doesn't work out to anything conventionally enjoyable.
The best bet is to live authentically within or slightly below your means, and spend your free time doing the things you enjoy... Not what some feed does a good job of advertising.
Enjoyment of slow days, reading, and cost-efficient leisure are becoming essentials for those living below the six-figure income range.
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u/ChickenChaser5 9d ago
Lol, was going to say, is it normal for those periods to last between 2008 to 2026+?!
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u/Brrdock 10d ago edited 10d ago
Absolutely. I feel like societally our motivation is easily just to keep people functional instead of affording people the time and space to face and process the hardest things in life.
So we judge those times and experiences as something we "shouldn't be feeling," whatever that means, anything that threatens the role and mask we and others would want to see on us, and in so doing rob people of the chance to learn from it, find the meaning, and find their way from the bottom.
It seems like an extremely nihilistic and materialistic thing to dismiss these powerful experiences and feelings as just something meaningless.
Things often have to get worse before they can truly get better
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u/Seienchin88 10d ago
I am the head of a unit of 300 people and it is a luxury problem but it feels like the fact that one needs to keep a fairly perfect image as people are looking for weakness (other executives to make themselves look better, team members as it’s entertaining to see your boss screwing up (I admit to that as well…) is a main reason why many leaders burn out and psychopaths thrive in the environment.
And every year pace is just getting faster and faster and AI is just destroying the human element in companies - not by yet replacing everyone but by putting pressure on everyone and any group to transform themselves irregardless of priorities, humanity nor actual business acumen.
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u/Brief-Artist-2772 9d ago
Ben there, done that. Before I became a stay at home dad I worked for a temp agency the was onsite for my 60 + workers in a factory. Have to be the main point of contact for the client was exhausting. They treated us like 2nd rate citizens and would get mad if I had the audacity to stand up for my workers.
But the worst part was the constant razors edge walking like you mentioned. I’m having an off day? Better question my whole tenure as manager. Relentless. They would bully the other shifts and “liked” their submissiveness. So of course all the other supervisors hate me because I’m making them look bad for not falling in line. But I started as a floor worker where they didn’t. I knew intimately how these people treated us.
So glad to be done with that chapter of that life, sorry just wanted to vent and your story reminded me about that.
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u/Seienchin88 9d ago
Sounds terrible and yeah screw companies where external workers are treated badly - reflects very badly on the company‘s value itself.
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u/No-Dragonfruit394 10d ago
oh boy did this find me at the right time. holyyyyyy i was jus thinkin this
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u/MagicWishMonkey 10d ago
It’s especially fun when you realize you’re near/at/past the halfway point, even if your life looks great from the outside it’s hard to wrap your mind around. It’s a triple mindfuck if you don’t feel old at all, I could give my 25 year old self a run for his money except somehow I’m old now…
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u/Narradisall 9d ago
Yeah I’m going through one of these now having hit that midlife period. It’s a real mind fuck and I remember 10 years ago an older college at around 44 talking about how he felt his life wasn’t right when he had a midlife crisis.
At the time I didn’t really reflect on it, and I think a lot of people in their 30s and under may not hit for them until they are older.
I’d be happy just to go back to where I was mentally a year ago.
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u/LogicJunkie2000 9d ago
Same. I'm currently hung up on wondering how much of my struggles are simply from aging, and how much is a glaring health issue I need to address.
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u/omgitsjagen 9d ago
I'm there with you, but senior citizens also tell me they are still 20 in the head. They just don't have the body to back it up. So, you never grow up. You just learn to fake it better.
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u/MagicWishMonkey 9d ago
I wonder if it’s easier or harder to come to grips with when you physically feel old. I feel like I’m a decade or two away from that point, hopefully. I’m in pretty good shape and pretty strict about the gym + running.
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u/omgitsjagen 9d ago
Going from 40 years of 20/20 vision to needing bifocals has been quite depressing. So, I'm not really looking forward to the decline. I'm certainly not as disciplined in the right areas like you are.
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u/frankysaysperhaps 9d ago
Thank you so much. My dad died 3 months ago (i’m 32yo). Been trying to lose weight and today I’m just not feeling my workout and productivity routine. I’ve been pretty hard on myself all day and I just…need to feel like I’m allowed to rest my head, body and heart.
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u/garbear007 8d ago
I'm so sorry. I went to the gym today and packed up a bit early cause I wasn't feeling it (bad break up earlier this year). I'll go back tomorrow. Might not be happy about it. Will grind it out anyway.
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u/MrMrAnderson 10d ago
Nothing matters unless you make it matter to you
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u/Eriiya 10d ago
YSK that understanding this doesn’t magically create a perfect opportunity to “take a break” every time you need one, and an inability to do so is often the cause of this in the first place rather than simple ignorance
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u/LogicJunkie2000 9d ago
Yeah, whenever I see this idea I wonder how much down time we used to have before good night lighting and a lot less concerns to process the day and plan for the next, vs being stressed as hell working 60 hours a week and surrounded by engineered distractions and unable to address everything one experiences in a day.
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u/Eriiya 9d ago
I mean, just cause our jobs weren’t always as stressful back then (though many were arguably far worse as well; our ideas of workers’ rights are pretty modern) doesn’t mean our lives weren’t lol. the basics of being alive were just a lot more work with a lot less exchange of money and goods when we mostly had to grow, raise, prepare, and preserve our own food ourselves; when water, heat, information, sewage & waste disposal etc. didn’t come at the push of a button; when modern medicine wasn’t around to eliminate most threats to our lives; etc etc etc.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I’d love to do away with much of the bullshit and middlemen of modern times, but it’s not like we were living stress free til now lol.
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u/Bridgebrain 9d ago
I agree wholeheartedly, but I think the key difference they're asking about is how much processing downtime they had. Sure, working the fields from daybreak to sundown is strenuous and stressful, and the perpetual fear that a freak storm is going to wipe out your crop is its own form of background stress, but they also had sundown to sunup, a noontime siesta, and winters to let go and deal with the accumulated stress.
Which is to say, I wonder whether the sheer lack of actual breaks is what's breaking us, not just the day to day.
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u/Eriiya 8d ago
you’re right there as well (though as a Canadian/Mainer I will say, winters are absolutely brutal to deal with, and in my eyes are the opposite of a break lol). but honestly it feels almost more of an issue of what we choose to do with the downtime we have (and therefore, of the options available to us).
sometimes you just have to sit there and listen to the birds or look up at the stars, but how do you do that when all you can hear is traffic and we’ve choked out the light of the night sky? why would anyone choose to do nothing when live information and opinions from all across the entire world are right there at our fingertips, when this little box in our pocket can constantly fill that void of nothing with something, and something else, and something more, and something cute, and something horrible, and something and something and something and … sorry I was tweeting, did you say something about birds?
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u/TheMurgal 9d ago
Yeah, maybe I'm a pessimist but this feels naively idealistic.
"Sometimes your brain just needs a break. Getting enough rest..." -Yeah, that's the problem. I chronically do not get enough rest BECAUSE of the stress and the fact that my brain is fucked,
"Taking some time away from work or constant pressure," Have you ever even been to America? Good luck with that. You think I can afford to just step away from my problems and go dance on a beach?
"Spending time with people you care about, or doing something you genuinely enjoy can help you feel more like yourself again." No shit, I don't have time to enjoy things. I can't afford the things I enjoy. Every fucking time I go somewhere or try to do something, something else breaks or goes wrong and costs me 10x what the outing should've and only adds more stress. In 3 months I've dealt with a blown radiator, an exploded tire from tread separation, a 2nd tire punctured by a random metal piece, a leaking charcoal/evap canister that pisses fuel out the back if I drive uphill, power steering leak, brake pads are shot, mystery clunk in the front end that gets worse now and then. Also had to get new tires and an alignment on our other barely-running 1996 Nissan.
I'm at the point where I hope the whole goddamn system burns to the ground and takes me with it. I don't care anymore. It's not worth the effort.
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u/Chrono978 10d ago
The thing is, there is motivation and meaning to life and struggles but most people feel down because we live during a time where outside forces outside our control are pushing us down and breaking our ambitions far greater than any other generation.
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u/Agrochain920 10d ago
What if there is no major life change or stressful time and it still feels shit tho. To me it feels like my life isnt going forward at all.
I dont hate living but it just feels like ive stopped moving forward
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u/64Olds 10d ago
Life is meaningless. But that's ok.
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u/GordonMaple 10d ago
Nobody knows whether or not it's meaningless. Nobody knows why we're here, where we came from, what the universe is. The biggest questions are unanswered.
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u/ThaddeusJP 9d ago
Nobody knows whether or not it's meaningless.
It is
Nobody knows why we're here,
Cosmic happenstance
where we came from,
Billions and billions of years of evolutionary changes
what the universe is.
Likely a temporary hapitable void until entropy kills everything 'alive' and it enters a long period of nothing happening
biggest questions are unanswered.
Pete Davidson's dating life
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u/GordonMaple 9d ago
Okay boss. Hope you're enjoying your bleak outlook on life.
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u/ThaddeusJP 9d ago
Life is a cosmic joke and I love every minute of it. How amazing that I get to exist, even if only for a short while? While I think it is a happenstance it is an amazing one.
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u/Always_Squeaky_Wheel 10d ago
This happens to me most summers
Been unemployed, friends thin out, actually got laid off this summer.
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u/Severe-Archer-1673 9d ago
What’s wild is depression doesn’t just happen. At least for everyone. It starts with that persistent feeling of listlessness. At first, you don’t even notice it. You just kind tell yourself…not today…I’ll get right tomorrow. But, everyday is not today and tomorrow never comes. You start to notice that a bunch of time has gone by and you haven’t done the things you should be doing, so guilt, remorse, and self pity dig in. Then, you start negative self talk, convincing yourself it’s not worth it to do the things you should or that you’d probably screw it up anyway.
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u/Strawhat-dude 10d ago
I mean thats because.. life truly is meaningless in the end. It really is. Down the line, nothing really matters. We are nothing. But thats okay, not everything needs a purpose. Just have fun while it lasts and enjoy every day to the fullest.
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u/GMangler 9d ago
Maybe in a philosophical or epistemological sense, but that is something philosophers have argued over for thousands of years so I think you’re speaking about it with a bit too much certainty.
But regardless of whatever the abstract truth of the universe is, that’s sort of beside the point of the post. life very well may be meaningless in a cosmic sense, but it is not supposed to feel meaningless. We are creatures programmed to want to live and feel alive. Sometimes the modern world or biology or stress causes us to temporarily lose sight of that. OP’s point is that this is totally normal part of the experience.
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u/Appreciate1A 10d ago
For decades at a time overlapping- the existential resentment keeps me going pleasantly perfunctory.
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u/d3adly2 10d ago
Got married last September, moved my wife in from a city 2 hours away, bought a new house, found out wife was pregnant, had a miscarriage a few weeks after, job switched how we staff , and all with some anxiety and depression I have had been medicated for the past 3-4 years and going to therapy the last 5 months. All while being 34 and feeling like a quarter life crisis. I definitely needed to hear this and to have life chill for a sec lol
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u/bandalooper 10d ago
Thank you for posting this. I don’t know how I can put this to use right now, but in some way it helped to read this and realize that it’s okay that I’m struggling so hard because I’m going through heavy stress, a few life changes, grieving both parents, teetering on the edge of burnout, and overloaded, overwhelmed, and over the hill.
Sure, there have been failures. But maybe I’m not the failure I feel like right now.
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u/CaptainDudeGuy 9d ago
Yeah, absolutely true, but also it's not normal for your government to create those multi-year periods so rich bastards can get more money.
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u/camohorse 9d ago
Definitely needed this reminder, even though my therapist just told me this the other day.
This too shall pass.
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u/General-Baseball-454 9d ago
When you have CPTSD, life feels like this all the time.
And when you go through major changes, even if they are good and what you wanted, your nervous system goes into full survival/shut down mode where it acts like you’re fighting in WWII.
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u/Nightmare2828 9d ago
Of course its normal to feel like life is meaningless, cause it literally is. The goal is to distract ourselves enough from this absurdity. The absurdity being that we are beings that craves meaning as an evolutionary drive in a universe that can provide none.
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u/Lonely_Devil87 9d ago
My life has no meaning since 8 years. No amount of therapy can fix it, because im too burned out, stressed and depressed to make changes to make my life better.
Tried 6 different anti depressants. Side effects are worse than the depression. (Suicidal thoughts, upset guts, restless legs, psychosis).
I just have to rawdog it, and try to stop caring.
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u/SeahorseRevolution 9d ago
What about when it's you social life that feels aimless and empty? Like you're in your 40s and so everyone is either busy with kids, or has other friends with kids but you're child free, or they're busy with their aging parents. And/or everyone is either burned out, or already has a friend group so there's no room for you, or they say they want to hang out, and you make plans, but they flake?
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u/Asleep-Ad-4822 9d ago
Life is empty and meaningless. It's not a period. And that's OK. Live your meaningless life to the fullest, it's the only one you'll get.
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u/papa-hare 9d ago
I mean, life IS meaningless. We just try pretty damn hard to give it meaning. And generally we don't think that hard on it as a survival mechanism.
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u/Difficult_Habit_4483 9d ago
I needed this today. It’s been really hard. I need a real break but it’s not happening
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u/FrozenShadow24 9d ago
What if it's every day for more than 15 years and therapy and meds barely help
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u/Otherwise_Security_5 9d ago
i mean it makes sense that your cognitive load, when overburdened by stress and other factors, can’t settle on meaning or purpose. that’s asking a lot.
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u/R8em 9d ago
I just got diagnosed with lupus. I'm in pain. I feel that my life is far one apart. I haven't been working. I'm afraid to look at the medical bills. And I'm bursting out crying, at least thrice a day I know I need to take steps, but it feels impossible.. Not dire just really really hard. Thank you for your good words
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u/_fluffybear 9d ago
I moved to another part of the country and don't have friends here. Work is stressful and demanding. I have been feeling very down lately. This post makes so much sense at this point of my life.
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u/an0maly33 9d ago
I've spent the last decade like this. Divorce, custody battles, subsistent money worries after forking over a massive portion of my pay... Only recently with the finish line in view of not paying for that bitch's house and being finished with child support have I stated to lift out of my funk.
I've never had panic attacks or any issues at all with depression/anxiety before the divorce. I've had to do some therapy and I've been on meds to regulate since. I went from feeling like I was capable of accomplishing/overcoming anything, "Don't worry about stuff you can't fix, and don't worry about stuff you can" to being so nihilistic that "bad ideations" didn't even seem bad. There were days where it was hard not to just call it. I promised myself if it ever got to that, I'd just load a backpack, get in the car and drive. Go completely nomad.
I don't hate my ex for what she did. I hate what I became because of what she did.
4 more months...I keep telling myself I can do it. I broke down a couple of weeks ago with the realization that I've felt more like my old self than I have in the last 11 years.
Sorry for the rant/overshare.
It's not always about needing a mental break. Sometimes life is just a bitch.
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u/ekita079 9d ago
Hey, thanks :) I'm absolutely in this kind of spot right now, I'm planning on getting a mental health care plan through my GP soon, I've got some shit to sort out. Hope you're doing okay too xo
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u/Street_Struggle_598 10d ago
Its normal to go through periods where you think life has meaning or that youre special
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u/stargaryen01 10d ago
I heard about a very popular book called Autobiography of a Yogi. I know how it sounds. But I guess it's a scientific approach to understanding miracles. Here's a YouTube video that explains it. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8YdW_T1aCdQ&t=311s
I hope It will help. I try to keep an open mind, because what I'm doing doesn't always seem to be working. video
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u/HappyGoPink 9d ago
Well, to be fair, life is actually meaningless. If you don't give your life meaning, it won't have meaning. And stressful times are all we've ever had, so I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.
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u/reggiebags 9d ago
I have completed my biological fulfillment. I exist only to comfort those that would grieve if I was gone
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u/Elegant_Situation285 9d ago
i've found that i have to apply meaning to life. that's usually just helping others.
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u/robotteeth 9d ago
That can also describe depression or burn out. If those periods last a long time and make it hard to manage day to day tasks, it’s better to speak with a mental professional instead of continuously struggling.
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u/brinestx 9d ago
been in this for a few years after losing dream job, health issues, and realization that my career is not a match with who I want to be. needless to say, been under much stress. I probably should've taken time off to care for myself, but have felt pressure to save money, keep health insurance, etc. Alas.
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u/National_Peace_5047 9d ago
COVID really made things weird for a lot of us. I feel like I lost my early 30s.
But then AI took my career. During my time laid off, my liver disease progressed to full on cirrhosis and now I'm disabled and awaiting a liver transplant in my mid 30s.
I guess it could be worse, but I do find myself just getting bored of the day to day monotony. The fatigue. The brain fog. Not having something to work towards. Wanting to work but not having the ability.
I know that this is just a moment in my life where it all feels up in the air, but it's tough when I'm stuck in the middle of it. Hopefully things get better?
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u/DanielaSte 9d ago
Oh! I started reading it like to go through menstruation when life feels meaningless, especially when life is stressful... and was like yeah, yeah, I know exactly what you mean.
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u/nontelop 9d ago
I've been stuck on this for a while now. I honestly don't know why I'm pushing forward but still
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u/baboudali- 9d ago
I’m going through this right now after starting a new job almost two months ago. I know it’ll pass and I’m going on a little vacation starting tomorrow so hopefully that’ll help me get out of this rut.
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u/magnusruud 9d ago
I went through years of mild through moderate depression and trauma on and off throughout my youth and 20's. Got that sorted out through therapy in my late 30's.
I have found that even now that I am reasonably happy and quite content, I still find life meaningless. I just don't see why that has to be a bad thing. In my mind, I don't find meaning in the sense that it is out there somewhere waiting for me to find it. I create my own meaning in life, if and when I need it. And I don't always need it to be happy.
I am told that this outlook makes me an existentialist. And after reading some Sartre, I have to agree.
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u/kuhplunk 9d ago
Funny this came up. Felt this all too recently. I appreciate you posting this
Lost my pup 5 months ago and have been overloaded with work since had me feeling this. I took a week off and I feel incredibly better.
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u/17FortuneG 9d ago
I just got broken up with like 4 days ago. I truly don’t know what I am going to do, I haven’t felt this lost in years.
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u/AnnieSavoy3 10d ago
There are years that ask questions and years that answer (Zora Neale Hurston)