I think I've been in some sort of depressed slump lately.

[lwcook]

It sounds like you realize this is an unhealthy lifestyle. Force yourself to leave the house and socialize is my suggestion. Maybe go to a park and read a good book for the day? Try to meet people, even if it feels daunting.

Good luck

The biggest problem I have with meeting people is that I lack the ability to reach or communicate with them easily thanks to a lack of modern tech (AKA I don't own a cell phone, and I barely ever go onto facebook or myspace or anything) which turns just about everyone I know off to talking or socializing with me which just pisses me off.

I mean the way most people are with the whole mentality of "Oh you only have a home phone?" and then never call or don't pick up when I call or refuse to talk to me because all they do is text just pisses me off.

How old are you mod-man? If you don't mind me asking that is...

If I recall from memory, you're somewhere around 17-18 mark. If I recalled correctly, and after reading the OP, then I would say you suffer from being a little more mentally mature than others your age.

Conforming to social norms like having a cell phone and doing the facebook thing are,in my experience, pretty important in keeping up with others. Even well into college this is the case nowadays. That being said, I didn't have a cell phone until college as I couldn't afford.

I personally have had various times in the past where I've been in the same slump as you. It's real easy to focus on things like "not doing anything notable" with your life and the such that you talk about. It usually feels like you're not getting anywhere doing what you're doing, and it'll never really change.

Try not to worry about it too much...life will take you somewhere in a little bit and you'll feel like you are where you should be. Just by realizing that you're not feeling up to snuff you help yourself get back to a place that feels like "you" again.

[Jrecee]

Just as I clicked on racketboy I was thinking. . . I don't feel like doing anything. I need to accomplish something. I do freelance work and had a 10 minute edit to do today and that's been it for the last week. Yesterday I got so bored a burned a new cd and just started driving aimlessly until I started running out of gas and realized if I didn't turn around I would be lost. Today same thing pretty much. I actually sat down and played videogames for a little while.

I have so many unfinished projects/games/bla bla bla and can't compel myself to finish them. Ziggy will be happy to know I actually spent 5 minutes working on the game demo I was going to send him a month ago =P

Anyway, I'm in the same boat. I don't know what to suggest.

[jfrost]

The thing about depression is that it's self-supporting. The more you stay home, the more depressed you are. The more depressed you are, the less energy you have to get out of your house.

I suggest not minding so much if you have friends or not. Try to do stuff. I went through some depression phases in my life, was even on meds for a while, but nothing really helps.

For example, instead of feeling sorry for myself for not having tons of friends, I just looked around for stuff to do. In my case, I started working out at a gym and began going to a table tennis club. It's not like I needed inhuman social skills to do well in those places. They were places where people were already doing something. If you're there, you'll just eventually talk to them.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Since I just dropped out of school, I've been sort of in the same boat as you. I've just been lazing around, occationally playing guitar, played some Dreamcast, sleep, smoke, that's about it. I've even ordered all my food off the internet the last week so the only words i've verbally spoken are words that you say when you stub your toe real bad. Parentals aren't home either, so that's how lifes been for me the last 2 weeks or so.

I decided to get out of the house yesterday as a friend enticed me to hang out, which bailed before I could even say hi i guess or just never showed up, so I went home after a half hour or so.

My reaction to this behavior patern... meh.

[Jrecee]

I would suggest getting another job actually. Either one that gives you more work than 3 days/week or a second job. I find that when I have work to do I'm always thinking of a million other things I want to do (or at least one). Then when I finish my work I go and do that thing. And even if I don't and just end up sitting around doing nothing, at least I feel like I accomplished something during the day and earned the right to sit around and do nothing.

[lwcook]

I would suggest getting another job actually. Either one that gives you more work than 3 days/week or a second job. I find that when I have work to do I'm always thinking of a million other things I want to do (or at least one). Then when I finish my work I go and do that thing. And even if I don't and just end up sitting around doing nothing, at least I feel like I accomplished something during the day and earned the right to sit around and do nothing.

This. It's funny how when you're busy working/at work, you think of all the stuff you want to do when you're not at work. However, if you have more than a few days off, all that stuff just becomes kind of "blah."

Basically I find it makes you value your free time and therefore make it fun.

[yomomma1]

I was depressed. Similar stuff, Didn't go outside much. Are you getting adequate amounts of Vitamin D?

[Kid Dracula]

I'm in/was in the same boat, but I'm starting to break out of it. You're more than likely depressed because you do nothing but the same routine every single day. And you're getting tired of your normal activities such as gaming, etc. because that's all you're around and basically all you did. What you do is, if you're not start going to bed a little earlier and get up earlier, eat and just get dressed, and FORCE your self to get out of the house. It doesn't matter where you go but go somewhere with human interaction and try to mingle as much as you can. It's hard man but the main word here is "FORCE", because after a while you won't have the energy to do anything and will just lay around feeling sorry for youself. You can do it man, you're just gonna have to tell yourself that you're gonna get out of this slump. And actually just start working out as that makes you feel better and will probably give you enough energy to go out and do something. And don't think just do. Don't think "should I?" "Maybe I shouldn't..." just GO!

[l0whit07]

I hate to hear of people being depressed, so I apologize you feel that way man. Like others have said, it happens to a lot of people, and maybe it happens for the better sometimes.

I've felt that same way for a few years. It had been getting pretty bad for the past year. I had been going to college for 3 years and hated every minute of it and I finally quit school and basically lost any social life I had.

I knew I had to do something about it, but knowing and doing something about it are completely different things. It wasn't until I finally took a risk and did something that I've started getting over my depression.

I joined the Navy. I did all kinds of research, talked to tons of people, and weighed the pros and cons. To me the pros far outweighed the cons. I had nothing going for me anyway and if I join the military, at least I'm going to get to travel, make some money, be around people, and get some training. If I end up hating it, it will only be 4 years of my life, and I will have at least gained some experiences. And best case, I love it and it changes my life.

I know the military isn't for everything, but it is something to consider.

Anyway, I hope you find something that makes you happy! There are plenty of people here to offer help.

[weasels]

i find i have been in the same boat for a while now. im 19, fresh out of high school and while i have chosen higher learning, i feel like im still not getting anywhere. i have no job, still can't drive, and at one time i was just like you with socializing. in fact i have been only starting to learn how to socialize between people a year ago. i can say i have gotten better. i say i was also like you in the fact that for most of my life i didn't really have many friends where i lived... that caused a lot of problems for me growing up and coming out of my shell was not easy. i have started to overcome it But that slump still remains. I constantly think about my future and think that if i don't do anything now, ill never get off the ground. The whole fact that im paying through collage with loans and government financial aid doesn't help one bit either. It's honestly a scary feeling. so yeah, depression, it sucks. but your not alone.