whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
I'm sure someone can follow me, but let me give an example of two: when I was little, I'd wake up at the crack of dawn to play super mario, or go fishing, and I'd sneak downstairs in the middle of the night on Christmas to peak into some of my presents, and if I got a hit in little league I felt like the king of the world, but now I'll sleep in every chance I get, and I couldn't care less if I get anything for Christmas, and I can't even think of anything that would make me feel as good as getting a single in baseball! so one, I am in the process of finding an antidepressant that works for me, and two, why don't some of us feel as good as we did when we were young? where did we go wrong? and how can we fix things?
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
I feel the same as you! I wish I were a kid again, with no responsibilities of adulthood, no worry in the world, and no adult problems and adult realtionship problems. I wish I was carefree like a child finding joy in the little things of life. Now that I am a working adult, it all has faded from me too. Can we ever go back to that state of being naive and of innocence. Ignorance is bliss indeed!
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
okay, and people have said this to me before, but it seems your saying that having to deal with real issues, (i.e. jobs, relationships, worrying about what to be in life, dealing with difficult people, etc.) sucks the life out of us, and that's certainly been my case to an extent, and although it would be nice to go back to the "good ol' days" (as long as I can take some things that have come along since, like newer family members and pets) I'd be right back in the second half of the 80's right now! but current technology prevents us from doing that, lol, so what do we do instead while maintaining all these adult problems that won't go away?!
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
It is wonderful to find others who "get it"! My family thinks it's all in my head. I should just buck up and get on with things. They have no idea what this feeling is like. Fortunately I have a doctor who understands. Your advice was good. I adopted 2 kittens last year and it really helps to have them. I cannot afford dinners or much shopping. Most of my problem is hating living here. My husband managed to spend enough that I lost my mortage free/paid for house. House in my name credit cards in both. We now live with family. I have other health issues so don't have much energy .Usually I just want to hide in my room reading. The local library is about my only outing.I used to love gardening now I just look at the weeds, think I really should get outside. I don't. I know I am not suicidal. I like me. I just hate my circumstances and the lack of respect I get here. I KNOW others have it worse and manage. I wish I could. Wouldn't it be lovely to wake up one morning and be happy???
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
This is for heretohelp13 (thanks for the list!) and consie, another thing is playing an instrument, that could possibly help! For example, I've been doing the antidepressant shuffle (which hopefully ends with the one I'm on now, Remeron for those curious), and I was taking wellbutrin about a month ago and one night I'm playing piano and actually sticking with the music instead of wandering off or what not and then I realized that I hadn't done that in a very long time!
Consie, I too am kinda sick of where I live, I live in a small town and there's not much of a job market for those who want to be able to live in something nicer than a tool shed, and most people who are successful here are so because mommy and daddy handed them everything on a silver platter or walked them right through the door to a successful job, and many of these people are so crooked that you'd feel like a saint if the worst thing you've ever done is gotten a speeding ticket! (I've got a whole manifesto of these complaints, how much time you got?) and although I don't know your exact circumstances I'm still gonna throw this out there for what it's worth, but the grass may not be greener on the other side, for example: I live now where I grew up and I thought going away to school would be fun but it turns out that some of my best moments in college involved driving away from the place! , but if nothing else just letting you know....I hear ya too!
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
Sounds like this town!!! It's not a geener grass thing. I am so used to that I don't care. It's how I have no space for me. Physically mostly,mentally there is always some upheavel to deal with,fight to settle or just plain being the only one to do anything to try to improve things. They are all happy and couldn't care less if the bills are paid,the cat is fed; not bothered at all.Of course I do it because that's what is suppose to be done. If I remark about dirty dishes,no gas in the car whatever they think I'm nagging all the time. I really cannot feel any joy nor comfortable place in life. Still I do like me. JUst not the pressure.
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
I get it! My main thoughts are of getting rid of this feeling, this pain that I constantly feel. I cant bring myself to do much. Even finishing a nightie which I started sewing about 3 months ago is too much for me to pick up and finish. I do a little sewing and walk off because the feeling of isolation, depression and the deep pit feeling is with me all the time. No joy!! No enthusiam!!
Its not fair to be so down. Why cant I get out of this pit? I too want to feel excited about doing something and to have the energy to WANT to do it.
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
It would be great to be excited by anything, wouldn't it? Now that it's spring here I think of how I should get out and garden. Never seem to do. Last fall I bought all kinds of flower bulbs to plant to brighten things up this spring. They are still in the packages. I know keeping busy is important...supposeedly a great help to recovery. Way back in the 1700's Dr.Benjarmin Rush, one of the founders of the U. of Penn Hospital wrote about meloncoly (sp?) His cure was to send people into the fresh air and keep them busy so they had no time to be sad. Problem is... how do I kick myself in the butt to do so??? Hereto help was right with the list. I adopted 2 kittens last year and they are the only cheer. Reading is good too. Unfortunately I over do it and read books almost all day. Does anyone have problems with food? Some days I don't care at all and others just any junky snacks. Occasionally during a meal I start to sort of gag and just cannot eat. It is good to know there are others out there, although it would be nice to have something joyful to share!!!
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life?
I do often like me, but as some of you have said: Its often our circumstances. I do believe this as my depression has never lifted under these circumstances Im living with. It may sound ungrateful but its still not fiar since I seemed to have missed my boat!!
I do love to be outside and garden most of all - to grow flowers, herbs and veggies is too wonderful for me but at the moment (its been a SEVEN YEAR moment) - I just do not have the opportunity to do the things I would love to do.
Depression and anxiety are totally draining, makes me forgetful too.
I must say that I helped someone move house and I was very busy for about 3 days which did certainly take my mind off of myself. And it gave me a bit of a boost to want to be constantly busy but some days I wake-up and am so tired and unnaturally tired that I could go right back to sleep for hours and so so sometimes. This chronic tiredness really gets to me the worst I guess.
Re: whatever happened to that child-like love for life? 
, but if nothing else just letting you know....I hear ya too!
