Struggling with life

by Nabz
(Lonon)

This last year has been a huge struggle for me. I used to be a healthy bright loud outgoing girl who was involved in so many things like doing voluntary work in my free time. This year I have struggled at school even at work (something I used to be really good at). I feel weird when I hung out with my friends so I avoid them at all costs. I used to dream about going to university and moving out but sending off my university application has even been my biggest struggle, I was even putted it off last year. I went to my family doctor and they said that I might have depression but I don't have most of the symptoms. Is there any way that I can overcome whatever is holding me back and how?

Your life struggles

Nabz, life is full of struggles and challenges. Your symptoms are not uncommon to be honest. Life can sometimes seem overwhelming, but as you go through life, your attitudes and moods do change. You are at a pivotal point in your life. You know that this is the time when severing of links with people is likely to happen. You are considering university, but this is a conflict with your current life. You presumably live with family and now it is dawning on you that you will be leaving them if you go to university, the ones you love. You will also be leaving your friends and maybe you are trying to avoid them as a way of coping with the split that will inevitably happen. These are all emotions that anyone leaving home or going to university will go through.

You mention that you saw your family doctor and they said it might be depression. Certainly low mood and avoidance are features of depression, but from your comments this diagnosis is only a possibility and in no way a definite. I presume that your doctor will be following you up in this matter?

As for how to overcome your feelings, time should do this. When you know for certain what you are doing with your life, I think it will probably fall in to place (particularly if you make that move to university, a new challenge in your life). Also, you do need follow up by your doctor. If this is depression, your doctor will be able to steer you through the treatments that are available to help you with this. Good luck to you.