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Mental Health > Depression Forum > Depression from life events
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Q: Depression from life events
asked by: dimar5150 on November 1st, 2009
New User
Right now my life is a mess. And it's all my fault. I got arrested and was facing a felony but luckily it was bargained down to a misdemeanor. I will be on probation for 3 years. I used to have no regrets in life and now I wake up every day and regret what I had done. I can barely get out of bed for work. I'm 32, live with my mother, have no friends who want to bother with me except for the guys in my band and co workers and those things might be taken away from me because I travel out of state to get to both places. Probation terms may restrict my travel out of state. I may still be able to work but I may not be able to play in my band anymore. Agan all of my friends have moved on with their lives, married, kids, houses and I own nothing, I have nothing except for my clothes, car and a few guitars.

I think about my life at this point last year and the year before and how wonderful it was. I was just moved in with a wonderful girl whom I thought I was going to marry. Then things fell apart. I had a cancer scare, I almost lost my job due to the economy, I took a cut in pay, finally my girlfriend left me. I couldn't live on my own so I moved back home. My friends stopped calling. Eventually I started dating but it was one rejection after the next. Then the band situation fell into my lap then my salary was reinstated. Just as I thought my life was starting to turn around, I did something incredibly stupid and ended up in jail. It was the worst day of my life. I shamed my family, I shamed myself. I had a bright future yet I took it for granted and never knew it at the time.

I feel worthless, I don't want to get up anymore, I feel like I have no future. I'm going to lose the only friends I have (the band) and the only thing that I love to do because everything I touch I ruin. I ruined my relationship with my girlfriend and now I ruined my life. I'm scared and I'm afraid it may get worse
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Elevation
replied on November 2nd, 2009
Experienced User
The first thing I would if you were here, I would get you to go back into the state you were in as you considered loosing your life to cancer. And move it to the day when you found out you did not have it. That is a great gift you will always have as a source of motivation and gratitude. It is the same gift the ghost of Christmas future gave Mr. Scrooge.

I would then advise you to redefine your problems in solvable terms. Everything you mentioned has a solution, even though it may not seem that way in this moment.

Use the legal situation as a learning experience of what to never do again and nothing more. We all make mistakes, that is not the issue; it is what we do with knowledge of it that will determine everything.

As for the relationship issues, if you still love her and it is possible to mend it, do that. If not, adopt the belief that they were not the right 'one' for you, and that the woman of your dreams is out there waiting.

Rather or not you can stay in the band, if the members are truly your friends, they will remain your friends, and your ability to play the guitar will still exist. I personally would express my desires to the probation officer, who can certainly choose to allow it. If they say "no", I would petition the judge. If that did not work I would go to a psychiatrist and get them to petition the judge; as they will have more influence. A good doctor will recognize that playing is a great outlet for therapy and would probably be more than willing to help you.

Also, understand that if you truly 'ruined' your life, you would likely not be here to post this. If you have indeed 'ruined' your life, recognize it can only get better from here.

Again, redefine your problems!
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dimar5150
replied on November 2nd, 2009
New User
I'm trying but I'm so scared. I'm scared of the process and the judge. I feel like I am worthless to everyone whom I come in contact with. I know that this is my fault, my mess and I don't know how to fix it. Today has been a better day because I am at work surrounded by people who care about me. But if they knew what I did,what would they say? It kills me to be lying to them but I know I have to in order to be able to work. I hate what I have done. I had visited a priest and confessed my sins and he told me that God has forgiven me. But what good is it if I can't. I have thought to myself that i will trade everything for this plea bargain. My job, my band, my music, everything. I am scared of prison.
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Elevation
replied on November 2nd, 2009
Experienced User
Again, we all make mistakes. How we recognize it as a mistake is we regret it. We have all done things we do not want to repeat to anyone. It sometimes seems as an unfortunate part of the growing process, but it causes us to grow and is therefore not the end. By all means regret what you have done wrong, but do not live in regret or you will be in reaction; not in control.

As long as you stay in a state of fear and depression, your thoughts will be clouded, and your actions will not be as effective as you need to overcome this situation. If you stay ‘there’ you are likely or even guaranteed to make more mistakes. The way to ‘fix’ it is to allow the mistake to make you a better person.

Come up with a plan for all that you want to accomplish. Take action on that plan. Notice if these actions are taking you closer to what you want, or further away. If they are taking you further away, adjust the plan, not what you want to accomplish. That is the secret to success in all things.

Do not sit and do nothing, which is true failure. Use your power, which is by definition, the ability to act.
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