Topic awaiting preservation: Serious Depression (Page 1 of 1)

I've been really, really depressed over the past two weeks. It occurred to me that I'm going to die, and that'll be it. I'll be a memory. I won't exist. I don't want to not exist. This must make me sound like Michael Jackson, but I really want to live forever. I just can't stand the thought that one day, I'll be gone, and I don't know what comes afterwards.

This must be why Heaven was thought up.

There is nothing you can really do to help yourself out of this, if you believe in no afterworld or reincarnation, but I would suggest that you can alleviate your troubles. A great social problem, as I see it, is people residing to living mundane and empty lives, and having nothing really to show for it when they are gone. Therefore to lessen your fear of not existing, you must leave something that will exist after you, something to show for it when you are gone. For example any creative activity will leave a unique reminder of why your existence mattered even a little bit. Also consider that I think part of the poignant, poetic, beauty of life is that it is fleeting, and in creating anything, such as your existence, working with a constraint like time is part of the art of it all...

This is all assuming that existence is as it seems. I would recommend you read something by, or a synopsis of Jean-Paul Satre, an existential philosopher who seems to describe the existential angst you feel, concluding that you must come to terms with your own existence, with out the "crutches" of god, heaven, the supernatural to lean on... hope that helps...

Rameses Niblik the Third: I'm afraid that is the cold, crushing realisation that sneaks up on atheists and agnostics - that there is nothing more than our mayfly-like existence. I allude to it here:
www.ozoneasylum.com/Forum17/HTML/000727.html

There are (at least) two solutions to this:

1. Drink heavily, take drugs, have lots of meaningless one night stands, etc. - granted this can be fun for a while but it actually only helps to make that emptiness worse and you are actually at more risk not less. Technically you are just running from a foe that will always catch you in the end.

2. Do something like quisja says. Make Carpe Deum your motto, live every moment like it could be your last, make a difference, have children, go out and meet as many people as possible, etc.

Another option is to actually believe in a God or at the very least an afterlife - you don't really have to go with one of the repackaged religions as there is nothing to stop you making up your own as long as you can actually believe in it. I have to say I have tried this but never was able to really believe.

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

Yep, this is most definitely why heaven was thought up - especially in times when dying was not something that would happen to you at some point in the distant future but was possible every single day (it still is, mind you, but far less probable).

I feel for ya. I had the same kind of depression (in a serious way) in my early teens (I´m 21 now). I got over it. Or, more precisely, it just went away over the course of some years. The thing is, as with all depressions, all the good advice and aphorisms that you come up with, or read and find all too true after you´ve been through the whole thing sound like mockery to someone who actually suffers from it right now.
Of course I´ll tell you some anyways

1. The more you think about it the more depressesd you get! It may seem cowardly just to push these thoughts away, but, especially at night when there´s nothing to distract you, there´s just no limit to how far you can pull yourself down. Just don´t do it. Try to stop yourself from going though the same loops again and again.

2. Experience that a depression is a very volatile thing! It´s impossible to feel depressed while you´re outside in the sunshine - you still know that you´re going to die one day - but it can´t get you down when the sun is shining in your face. Depressions love solitude and closed rooms. Even if the weather is not so nice, just going for a walk outside - if necessary in the middle of the night - will make you feel better for the moment.
This helps you realize that it´s not the facts that are getting you down, but what your brain makes of them - and this can change in minutes.

3. Just do anything that makes you feel good for the moment! You are depressed because your life is finite. Are you going to waste what little time you have with being depressed?
Hang out with your friends, read books, go outside and experience the greatness of nature, even sit down with a bowl of chips and watch TV or play stupid video games - In all this, and a lot of other things you will find the little moments when you think "life is beautiful". And somehow in this moments you won´t be even more afraid that it will end - you will be able to accept it. And that´s all you can do.
And when you have lived your life to the fullest and your time comes, you will be able to go with a smile on your face.

Take care!

No need to be depressed...just live your life! Knowing that you will die, is a great way of actually propelling yourself forwards...time is short - live your dreams, because if you don't, as you stand before the black exit, you'll regret it, bitterly, that you didn't at least try.

Maybe a bit of the Carpa Diem thing...but basically, just being able to say to yourself, that you are amazed, that you came so far...I love looking back, and wondering on how I came so far...beyond my wildest dreams. Live the adventure, before it's over...go through those doors, before they are closed. Live, learn, be.

This means get up from that couch, away from the monitor, and see what life has to offer...you'd be surprised...dwelling on something that is unavoidable (presently, anyway...who knows what tomorrow may bring), isn't conducive to your mental state. Instead, use it to propell you in a positive manner...


WebShaman

no offense but these replies seem much to wordy for the subject. my thoughts -

such is life. accept it. then go live it. =)

What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^

Its happened to a lot of us and I'm sure most of us (?) would agree that it doesn't go away it just gets easier to live with - the worst thing you can do is sit around pondering the situation (it doesn't help).

___________________
Emps

FAQs: Emperor

While it seems certain that we will die, the exact nature of death , what death is, remains unknown. Life is a series of uncertainties, death included. This uncertainty can be cause for fear or looked at with a sense of adventure... Personally, I don't go for all this beginning/end stuff. Way to linear for me.



[This message has been edited by norm (edited 03-03-2003).]

Actually, heaven thought you up.

Jason

It's a nice thought.

But alas....

Dude its ok man dont worry! get yourself busy!

write a book man !!!

lets think....how about something that has to do with death :P

aww man I know ya like writting

How?

Very easy...go outside...and enjoy some sunlight, some wind, the clouds, the birds...find some trees, maybe a babbeling brook...bring a bit to eat, and drink...and enjoy.

I have to say, if there were some more pressing issue which was causing your depression, I might ahve some sort of empathy.

Man is mortal. We learn that as children.

Deal with it - you don't really have a choice.

Make what you can of the time you have so you don't look back at your life as old man and *truly* get depressed =)



[This message has been edited by DL-44 (edited 03-03-2003).]