I get really, really depressed at my job(s). I would love to know why!

A question: ( which I will continue to write this post as if you answered yes).

When you were younger did you have a passion, as an imagined job for your future?

My friend and I also suffer this feeling, and as far as we could self analyse, it was potentially the situation where although we have good jobs and families etc, we never reached the heights we thought we would when we were younger. ( And I don't mean childhood, I mean realistic adolescent goals)

Mid life crisis? Who knows.

He always wanted to be a pilot, I always wanted to make films.

The question we used to narrow our situation down was this: have you ever done anything in your life that REALLY pushed and tested your limits?

I don't mean bungee jumping or sky diving or even work stuff that was "hard" but all it took was work.

Have you ever really done something in your life that tested you in a true and (potentially fatal) manner?

Not many have. Even though I could answer yes, it wasn't really anything "intentionally" committed.

We both feel our lives are 'ok', but we are both intelligent and capable, and our jobs hold no real challenge. Just repetitiion.

It's the FightClub scenario. We are the generation that has no great war, no great depression, our war is a spiritual war. ( Or something to that effect).

And I feel, at least personally, this is true.

I'm not sure if any of that applies to you, or anyone here.

If not, apologies, here's a potato: O

@Jlol,

Reading through what you've written - I can definitely relate! When I was young I went trekking through the Himalayas... it really challenged me and pushed me...yes, OK.... but it was awful!!

We got lost, nearly ran out of water, trekked for hours on end not knowing where we were going, wondered if we would survive, got sunburned and dehydrated, drank impure water and had gastro! I can't say it made me a better person or anything like that! It was totally terrible.

All that happened is that I came home and wanted to forget the whole thing. I have since given up wanting these kind of 'challenges' in my life. No thanks, I would rather just be comfortable.

@Former-Member, I can understand what you are saying.... I'm sure there are plenty of people who need to be challenged, tested, pushed to their limits, etc, and that they emerge as a different, more well-rounded person. But I assure you, I am not one of these people! Give me ease and comfort any day.

@Jlol, I'm no expert but I can relate to everything you've said about yourself, especially not having a strong drive to pursue a career as a younger person, and not being interested in any one thing for very long. It could be related to feeling depressed.

Is there anything in life that you would really love to do that doesn't involve your career or working?

@Sahara.

I can appreciate what you say about comfort and discomfort, and no offence, but I've been in my "comfort zone."

It's called denial, avoidance and depression.

What is the point of being alive? To experience things.

You don't do that from your comfort zone.

I don't 'need' to be challenged and pushed? But as an atheist, I think apart from passing on our genes, all we do in our brief existence is experience things.

The good and the bad.

I think taking on and achieving the most extraordinary things you can, is about as high as the experience meter goes.

I've hidden away, been comfortable, vegitated....

But I don't think I was alive.

@Jlol,

so there is nothing you can think of that you really love doing? Was there something you once loved to do, as a child? Or have you felt this way forever?

I thinking reading is great- I absolutely love to read and can lose myself in a book. What kind of books do you read? Do you have a favorite?

I can relate to waking up and knowing that you don't have to go to work and feeling very satisfied with that. It's a wonderful feeling. I have my Dad coming over today to visit me... for me, that's 'work'!! I would much rather have the day to myself.

I can relate to Glass wings..Because of my severe depression I keep myself "safe".Whether it keeps me "safe",I don't know because the isolation feeds the anxiety and depression.Through learned experiences,eg:bullying,people who p***me off with being rude,growing up obese ,people thinking it gives them right of way to put you down,family crap etc this all limits you and yes I live in denial,avoidance and depression.I now have no fight,and a lot of flight,if you want to relate Darwin's theory.I have read more books this year than I have ever in my life in relation to JLOL, because it's a form of meditation,switching off your mind and letting it relax.As for blowing the whistle etc.I have had similar experiences in different forms,which took its toll,the hardest part is accepting that they get away with it and are protected,or its all projected back on you and you internalize it.We grow up and are institutionalized to believe what's right or wrong but in reality it's very different.This can cause chaos in your head due to internal conflict.

@Former-Member,

I absolutely agree with you- reading is a form of meditation for me, too. I go into a bit of a trance when I read, lol. I even wondered if there wasn't something a bit addictive in my need to be reading so much all the time? It is true escapism for me.

What kind of books do you read? Do you feel like you can learn something from reading? Like, do certain books or stories bring you some insight into yourself?