Depression: Something is still missing. How can I be happy?

Posted by halenbon81 @halenbon81, 1 day ago

I did crazy things as a child because of trauma that at that time I didn't know that was what what's happening to me I just thought it was life and I wasn't strong enough for smart enough to get through it and felt like a failure. I'm 63-year-old man and I've been in counseling and therapy for 6 years and have a psychiatric doctor for 4 years and we're just now pulling the layers back of my life and I cannot believe the trauma I was going through as a little boy. I would do things and even numbers or I thought I would have bad luck or something bad was going to happen to me if I went out of the house to play I made sure at the end of the day I would come back in the same way or something would happen to me. That was at 9 years old and I had a two-year-old sister that I protected. At the age 14 I found a way to get alcohol all I wanted in about any time and that was the out I was looking for. I'm now 63 and I quit alcohol for 3 years along with my therapy and positive friends but recently I have started drinking again I don't think it's really ever going to end it's hard for me to let go and heal. Is there anyone else out there I can relate to my story I have wonderful people in my life and all kinds of support but I'm still not happy anymore I'm miserable something is missing it's hard for me to like myself I feel like a failure in life because I don't have a lot of worldly things that a lot of people have that I thought a man was supposed to have by now. I'm just hoping that something will happen where I can be happy the rest of my life if you can add anything to this to help me I'm listening thank you.

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You say near the end:
I have wonderful people in my life and all kinds of support but I'm still not happy anymore I'm miserable something is missing it's hard for me to like myself I feel like a failure in life because I don't have a lot of worldly things that a lot of people have that I thought a man was supposed to have by now.

So basically u r saying: Wonderful people -- I suppose you define them NOT loosely, but truly as Friends whom you can Confide into -- Do Not Matter. REALLY?
How could you even want to say this or is just a wandering thought because otherwise you'd tell us: I KNOW so many who have no "wonderful people" in their lives but are "happy" because they have "lot of worldly things."

First most people MASK their inner lives -- especially when they are With others. NOBODY wants to be even suspected seen as 'losers.' If anything loneliness is rising and is the second highest among over sixty, & more so in men. "wonderful people" as Friends, make life what you call "happy." People in AA know that.

I shudder at the prospect of you pursuing"worldly goods" only to find you years behind in your goal to be "happy."

What does make Humans Happy (I call it contented) is that they have spent their lives to Do Good. And this capacity Everyone is provided no matter their fate.

I'm 83 have No worldly goods, never had or wanted. It's a dead weight that wud've restricted my freedom to do what I wanted, what YOU want in the One life we all are given. Some call it their Purpose. No sooner our Basic needs are met (food, shelter) humans aspire to do what ONE thing they want most. In my case it was finding and writing a non-medical way to solve overweight/obesity issue.

Did you know the literature Nobel winner wrote back this week when a newspaper asked her how she feels about? "YIKES!!"
Actually Feynman. physicist laureate had said something similar: colorful flap. He also authored a book called, "The Pleasure of Finding Things Out."
Man, You've already lost many years of your life. As others here have asked you to find what actually makes YOU feel good, even proud.
Let's know your Next steps. Will you?

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@shmerdloff thank you so much for your words . I have fear of rejection all the time and when I get close to someone I with draw. It's a vicious cycle.

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@halenbon81
Just remember It's Not Your Fault. As infants we look to our parents for Winnicott's Gleam (of love) in the parent's eye. If parents are not healthy, mentally, there is no connection. The child's Self has no reflecting mirror by which it can self identify. "Am I any good? Am I wanted,? Is there a place for me in this world?"
And mostly, like Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man "Is it safe?"
Without these developmental pieces, we have no inner compass, gyroscope, or ballast. We have to guess at what "normal" is, relying on other people and their reactions, which are not consistent or reliable, to figure out what Reality is. We end up confused, uncertain, and withdraw, probably with a sense of shame or self loathing😡, which limits our ability to go out there and try again. There is the vicious cycle.
Our parents, and their parents, and their parents (Sapolsky it's turtles all the way down) probably were caught in the same cycle. So, It's not your fault.
To fill in the void left by broken parenting, we create fantasy bubbles in which to live. But fantasies have no substance, like soap bubbles , and they POP!, leaving us with the same void/abyss- looks like freedom but it feels like death (Leonard Cohen).
It's painful, soooo We drink, drug, shop, gamble ... and replace the void with addiction , which becomes its own problem, and being comfortably(?) numb. (Pink Floyd). Until we're not. Dead?
Like I said, I am no holy roller, but both Jung and Alan Watts💡💡 said We belong in this world. We have our place in our "corner of the sky" (Pippin). We are loved. Who said so? God said so.
We are created in His/Her image. It does not mean become a religious fanatic. It means fill the void with YOU. Partner with God in this adventure (Kabbalah) to repair this world.
St. Thomas said , according to Joe Campbell , that what Jesus wanted was "Be as I am." The Buddah said nothing. He pointed to the moon. "Why are you asking me about the moon? Go look for your own direct experience."
Thanks for listening. lmk.

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@laurabamford4015 I do take meds that is supposed to stop the craving and drinking but it doesn't my hurt it's just so great. Thank you for messaging me back I appreciate that

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@halenbon81
I tried several alcohol craving suppressant drugs but one made me sick. The other threw me into a depression. Have you tried the GLP’s? They worked for my friends.

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