Mental struggle I want to give up

My career was in early childhood education, and my focus is on children and their wellness. I am thinking about your post not from your point of view, but your child's. We used to give information to parents with depression or mental health issues, that their child feels what they feel, they are feeding off of your vibes, so not seeing a doctor to get better or get therapy to start healing is actually child abuse; put your child first and go get help before your child needs anti-depressants and therapy. You don't want your child taken away by child protective services because you are not providing a safe, stable household. Do this for your child; put your child first and go get help, for their sake.

@pinoptes, welcome. You've received a variety of helpful and supportive comments from fellow members. I hope that you've found nuggets of ideas that you can put into action.

It takes courage to share your story and I'm confident that this is a good first step to getting help. Do you currently work with a therapist? What suggestions from members might work for you?

| It all seems so fake and temporary, friends die, jobs change, the clean gets dirty, etc etc. |

I'm not super religious but do lean toward Buddhism which I find helps a lot with these kinds of thoughts. A core tenet of Buddhism is that everything is constantly changing and nothing is permanent--and that's OK.

I've had friends and family die (as I'm sure most of us have) but that doesn't mean the time we spent with them was "fake." It was very real while it happened.

My beliefs have really been put to the test since I had a cancer diagnosis, and I do sometimes feel like a hypocrite for going into a poor mental state because of this, but what seemed so horrible (treatment) has already passed. Will the cancer come back? Will my best friends die before me? Who knows.

It's always easier to accept changes in our lives that come because we WANT them to happen than it is to accept changes that come when we DON'T want them.

Just because something is temporary does NOT mean it's "fake." I've had people I've known for less than a day that have changed my life (usually for the better, occasionally for the worse) and those changes were as real as they could possibly be.

I also have these thoughts, i feel hopeless and no one understands. I feel like at this age what else is there to look forward to in life but more pain and depression.

Oh dear lord what a shame, we bring up our children think we have done an amazing job, only for them to just disown us without a backwards glance. I have come to the conclusion these kids/men have no idea the pain they cause us when they treat us like we are the ones who are wrong. My sons demands I respect him and his wife, seriously talking to me your mum in that manner is not the way I brought you up, so first and foremost he needs to get respect for me. All I want is to see my only grandson, but his “ Strife” has him under her thumb. Not in a giggles way but in a coercive manner imo. So I really get how you are feeling. X

I really don’t think you are a miserable person! I think you are seriously depressed. I have felt the same way many times in my life and art has also been a constant source of relief. I know you don’t want to take pills or speak to a therapist but these two things could not only save your life, they could actually make you feel better. People don’t (for the most part) get into the field of Psychology or Psychiatry because they need a job. They do it because they genuinely care about others. I think you should let someone care about you. I do and I’m just some anonymous stranger who knows there’s an answer out there for you!

I am so, so sorry. I can sense you must feel like you are in over your head with no hope or energy to change your circumstances. I am sending good "vibes" your way and I recommend for you to consider reading M. Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled." It may help you with confronting and solving your problems through discipline, love and grace. If not for yourself, give it your best shot to work toward a positive change for those who love you.

Therapists and psychiatrists do care. Very much. If you don’t want or need medication they have so many options available to help you.
Familiarize yourself with finding reputable sources and read up on ways to help yourself. A therapist can recommend subjects for you to explore. You don’t have to have traditional therapy to see a therapist if you don’t want to go that route. Good luck. I care that you take care of yourself.

Sweetheart know that you matter. See a physician. If you don"t like them , try another. Believe it or not you are special and obviously worthy. Medication is not a crime. It may safe your sanity and life. Best to you. Hugs!💕

I'm really sorry to hear you’re going through this. It takes a lot of strength to articulate feelings like these, especially when everything on the surface looks “good” by most people’s standards. What you’re describing sounds like emotional exhaustion, maybe even a kind of burnout on a deep, personal level. Losing important connections—like your parents and close friend—can leave a significant void, and it’s natural to feel isolated, even with supportive people around. Sometimes, that loneliness isn’t about physical presence but about feeling deeply understood and seen, especially in ways that go beyond daily interactions.

Maybe therapy could be a chance to unpack some of these feelings in a way that goes beyond just “getting better” or taking medication. Therapy isn’t only about solutions; it can also be about exploring these heavy feelings with someone trained to navigate complex, nuanced emotions. If you find the right therapist, it could be more like talking to a sounding board rather than just getting a clinical analysis.

You’ve done an incredible job putting words to something many people struggle to articulate. If there’s even one person you trust to listen without trying to “fix” things, that might be a good place to start. Reaching out here shows you’re searching for answers, which is a huge step on its own. Please know that you're not alone, and even though the relief you seek feels elusive, just having a space to voice these thoughts is a meaningful place to begin.