| 
Yah man, I really do feel you on this one... The last semester at college was really rough for me. I felt isolated, friendless, and to top it all off I started balding. I was depressed... I think the reason was was because I was at a crossroads in my life... a new chapter was about to begin. I started keeping a journal around this time. Once I saw my thoughts on paper and started articulating them I think I became more motivated to change them. I really started becoming more myself around that time. I experimented hanging out with different people, doing things I thought I might like or gave things a try that at one point I wouldn't have. I started bullshitting less. That was a big one. I used to put on a fake smile and pretend to be happy for people. I don't know why that is. Maybe you know what I'm talking about? Looking back, I think it's because I didn't want people to know I was depressed. I felt a kind of empowerment about not bullshitting people anymore... telling them what was on my mind, doing the things I wanted and getting to know people I wanted to get to know but didn't have the courage before. During my entire time at college I always took classes that interested me without regard to them fitting into a major and my Mom was always okay with that. The last semester I took all the classes I REALLY wanted to take but used to think that 'I wouldn't fit into.' What helped me the most I think was an acting class I took. The teacher was one of the best teachers I've ever had. She was very real and cared about what she was doing. She had a way through exercises of opening people up to themselves and not being frightened of being more vulnerable in front of people. That helped me a lot and I really did learn a lot of about myself from it (that plus the journal.) I used to always want to play the guitar well and about up until a year ago I pretty much sucked (I started when I was 15.) I was going about it all wrong... I was going about it the same way I was going about life (go figure.) I would always use tabs to figure out songs and if there was a note wrong in the tab I would still hold to it religiously even if it sounded wrong to me because I wasn't confident in my ability to listen. That was my biggest problem. I didn't listen. Once I started listening a lot of things opened up for me and became accessible. That was a big obstacle for me... yours could be something much different. You're the best person to find out what's blocking you. In short I started being more real and accepting who I was and willing to work towards what I wanted to be. I'm closer to who I want to be now. I respect myself more and like the mirror that reality is, people respect me more. Depression for me was about not knowing/suppressing who I was. I personally don't believe in chemical imbalances... that's just a way for people to take responsibility off of themselves. I honestly believe, as proof by my own life, that everyone is capable of achieving what they want to. Life doesn't have to be tragic and a struggle - or rather - the struggle can be fun (when you're doing what you want to do.) Currently I've been tracking my life with a Mind Portal... you may have read about it on here. Already I feel more empowered and my life has improved. I'm more energized to do things and improve my life more than I have been in a long while. Also, I too used to play a lot of games and after the hours would pass by and I'd look at the clock and it was 3:06am I'd feel really shitty about myself. And for good reason! I didn't do shit all day. I just sat on a chair and clicked a mouse. I still play games but more in moderation. Also I never used to help around the house for my mom and my room was always messy. I started helping and that made me feel better too. If you want to and are willing to sincerely change yourself for the better then you will. I know that for a fact!
"I try my best to be just like I am but everybody wants you to be just like them."
|