Feeling this way is not strange- many people feel like this on a daily basis. Sometimes just changing our mindset and the way we think can drastically improve our sad feelings. I'm not sure how old you are but there are things you can be doing to make yourself feel better. You can sign up for a class, meet new people, volunteer, go to a coffee shop and just hang out, go to the gym, try a new sport or hobby. Have you tried setting short term or long term goals for yourself too? Sometimes when we have something to work towards it can propel us to feel like we have a purpose. You have to find your purpose in life.

I am so sorry and sad you feel this way. Please know however that you are not alone. Millions of people (me included) struggle with the very issues you describe.

fiteach8 offers some great ideas. Engaging with others can be very, very helpful, as can finding an activity that aborbs your attention. I would add that in my experience, professional help is also extremely important. I have learned the hard way that when I try to do without talk therapy or meds things get worse in a big way. My depression and anxieties cannot be controlled by my own willpower. I still have rough patches, but they are much lessened in frequency and intensity by talk therapy and meds. Though new to this website, I have found that it, too, can help my moods just by giving me a place to share or vent with people who know how I feel.

If you are having an especially rough time, you can also go to any hospital and ask for help. I am not sure why you have not had professional help, but if money is an issue there may well be a way to work all that out.

I so hope you find something that works for you.

"I dont feel like doing anything and feel like sitting in my room for hours just thinking and occasionally crying. I think the problem might be because i dont have much to do no distractions nothing."

I think that's the problem. GIVE yourself something to do. Happiness requires doing! When I feel that way, i get on my bicycle, give myself a direction to go in, and travel at least 10 miles. Or I give myself a passion project. I edit a family video, re-mix a movie soundtrack, or anything else that generates passion that I can follow, enjoy, conquer, achieve. Problem solved. I have a goal, I achieve it, and I am happy...for at least another day. Then I do it again or do something else.

I am sorry that you are going through this. I have had some of the same issues on and off for awhile now too, but I didn't know what they were till this year. I have been able to pretty much stay out of the depression zone for a few months. I have bad days, but not the can't motivate myself to get out of bed want to shut out the world days. Everyone feels sad sometimes, but lingering there is an issue.

Changing my diet, exercise, finding a new friend or two, reading and posting on this site, adding some supplements, doing a self-help book on depression, and trying to get better sleep have all helped me. I am also on Wellbutrin, but not the therapeutic dose. So I do not know if that is really helping or if I am just scared to stop taking it for fear the rush of depression will come back. I would suggest at least a self help book if nothing more. If nothing else I learned the causes of depression and a few methods for dealing with it. But if possible, I would go see someone. A therapist would be best, but I didn't have that option really since it was not covered on my insurance. I went to my general practioner in April told her I was losing my freaking mind. She smiled, went over my symptoms and family history, and started me on drug therapy. I really hate drugs, but I know that they really help some people. I was willing to open my mind and try them. I was tired of feeling that way. Good luck.

I know exactly how u feel. I feel pretty much the same way you do. Everyone says I just feel sorry for myself but that is not the case. I sit for long periods of time thinking on what would make me feel better about myself. I take enough medicines to choak a horse and yet I can still say I am depressed. I sometimes have wondered if I would be missed if I wasnt here. But I journal everyday to atleast put what I am feeling an paper, Its my way of saying I talked to someone since I have no one either to talk too. There is a reason I know why I feel and you feel the way we feel. I cant tell u what it is but there is a reason, I struggle everyday to put a smile on my face. I found the exercising also helps a little if you are able to ecercise. We both do need a goal and a purpose, I would love to be a friend to u and help anyway I can.

So sorry to hear that you are going through such a rough patch. You are definitely not alone. Figuring out how to stop feeling sad is probably one of the biggest wishes of this group in general. Oh how life would change if someone had a special fix for us!

I am coming out of a pretty bad spell that has lasted a good solid week. When I say bad spell, I mean waaaay beyond the normal feeling of depression to the point where I was calling emergency support lines just to have someone to talk it out with this weekend. It can be SO HARD to distract yourself from that. I wish I knew what your special thing was so I could answer it for you. Don't laugh but my special thing is coloring. Yep. Almost 40 here soon and if I sit myself down with one of my daughters coloring books and a pack of crayons, I can sometimes get myself through 30 mins or more of what at times is simply unbearable sadness and loneliness. Definitely not a permanent solution! But its worked pretty well as my secret little thing to take my mind off all the dark stuff for a while. Tough to be angry when you are looking at pictures of hello kitty with teddy bears and some of the other funny stuff my kid loves. Do you think that you can find something like that for yourself? Even if its something really silly like mine?

BTW I used to cut as a distraction so I understand that too. Sometimes the physical pain can make you forget about stuff for a while, but those scars are terrible reminders that never fade. I personally feel like it kinda brings more sadness later on when you see them again and remember what you went through. I hope you can find some comfort in something so you don't have to hurt yourself again. There are so many people here, you never have to feel alone with nobody to talk to. Send me a message anytime you like, even if its just to rant. May take me a few hrs but I will always reply. Now for sure you have at least one person to share your feelings with (and I'm sure MANY others who read your post and feel the same about talking with you).

Many people don't realize or believe that depression is a real thing and don't understand it. Maybe because they haven't been there or have and don't remember. like you I would like to know if there is a relatively permanent solution. I think some people will need to deal with it their whole lives... I don't know. you are not alone though. Therapy can be expensive, I know I can't afford it. I found lot of good ideas and help on here...many are things that worked for me in the past