Expert: Patricia A. Schafer, Ph.D. - 9/14/2009

Question
I really need some advice from somebody. For the last 5 or so years I have been quite severely depressed. I feel like life is pointless, and that everything I do is a waste of time. There is noting that I really enjoy doing so I feel like I知 just living because I am here and I have no choice. I know this is not normal but as much as I try, I still feel the same way. I go to work, to earn money so that I can support myself yet see no purpose in my life. I知 only 26 yet I feel like I am going to feel this way forever and it makes me feel so despondent. Because I知 depressed, I don稚 have the energy to be myself and engage socially which makes me so scared that I知 going to end up alone. I知 shy anyway so it痴 hard for me to connect and I just feel so disconnected from everyone else. I feel like there is something wrong with me, that I知 damaged and why would anyone want to be y friend because of this? I知 on antidepressants but I still feel hopeless. Things that other people find fun, like seeing movies, reading, etc seem just like something pointless to do to fill the time. What is wrong with me that I知 so uninterested in everything? How can I find life in myself again?

Answer
Hi Holly:

Depression is very hard to live with and sometimes it takes a while to get the right medications that work. It also sounds like you may have social anxiety. It is common for depression and anxiety to go hand in hand.

I suggest you talk to your doctor for a reevaluation of medications. You might need to up your present medications or to change it. I also suggest seeing a psychiatrist for a reevaluation because they know their medications better than regular family doctors.

Here is a web site to help you learn more about depression. Also, it has self inventories you can take to see how serious your depression is. There is also an inventory for anxiety. I suggest you take them both and make a copy for your doctor the next time you see her or him.

http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html

This is a very good web site put together by a Dr. Ivan Goldberg, a psychiatrist in New York. You will learn a lot from this site.

Take care,

Dr. Pat