i feel so unsettled with everything, feels like a mid life crisis at 15.

Question

I feel so down and alone with everything its like I don't like anything I'm becoming distant from my friends I don't like my appearance I want to change my appearance I eat and then I don't eat I don't like any new TV shows/movies/books. I can't get into anything. I feel alone all the time.  My confidence has gone completely in a couple of months. I don't know what to do any more I used to have bad nights like once every so often like everyone but now its like I feel the same everyday and every night. I am also struggling to sleep. I don't want to go to a doctor. I don't want to bother my friend or my parents any more because i feel bad for them, they shouldn't have to put up with me. I lost a lot of weight a couple of months ago however with a long time of binging I've gained it all back on which probably isn't helping. I've failed exams as well because i cannot find motivation to do anything. I think I've come here because I'm scared.I don't want to feel like this any more. Please don't be mean.

Answer 1

Hi,

I have struggled with depression and there's been improvement for me. I've been taking antidepressant medication. Also, I've been doing the 12 steps of Emotions Anonymous.

1: We admitted we were powerless over our emotions--that our lives had become unmanageable.

2: We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3: We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5: We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7: We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8: We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to all of them.

9: We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10: We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

11: We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Emotions Anonymous, a fellowship of people recovering from emotional problems like anxiety, depression and anger.
http://www.emotionsanonymous.org

May peace be with you,
Anonymous

Answer 2

Hello there,
Hang in there. It sounds like you are experiencing a very trying time.
I can only suggest things that have worked for me or others I know and hope it helps a little.
TALK - I suggest that you try your best to find someone to talk to - to share with - who will listen without judgment (whether this is online, a counselor, a doctor, a friend or family member - people generally want to help and have compassion and love for those close to them). And it seems most of us require help at some stage in our lives and often we need it more than once.
READ - I have found reading books to be of great help to me. I generally find the right book at the right time. Perhaps look online, at your local library or book store.
POSITIVE SELF TALK - Be kind to yourself ALWAYS  in your words, thoughts and deeds. Know that you are doing your best for now. Give yourself a pat on the back. Avoid judging yourself and others.
ENJOYMENT/PURPOSE - Find something that you enjoy doing and do it. Volunteering or helping others (humans, animals or the environment) in any way is a way to get outside and out of your head and feel clearer and occupied in ways that can open up your world and generate 'feel-good' feelings..
GENTLE - Be gentle with yourself - baby steps - one day (one moment) at a time.
ACCEPTANCE - Will set you free from resentment, struggle, stress, anxiety and sadness. Let those emotions be there and then allow them to release (they can have a tendency to come back over and over - so keep letting them be there and allow them to go when they are ready to go).  If you can't do anything about a situation right now then accept it for now - You may be able to do something about it later or tomorrow. If you cant do anything now - why beat yourself up about it or worry or turn it over and over - and resisting negative feeling generally makes the feelings stronger and less likely to release.
PRACTICE POSITIVE THOUGHTS - When you notice negative thoughts - let go of them for now - don't judge yourself for thinking them - in fact give yourself a pat on the back for noticing them. I never realized how often I was caught up in negative thinking until I started practicing noticing my thoughts (I still catch myself often and I've been practicing this habit for years).
I hope some of this is of assistance to you and I wish you all the best. Be kind to you - you deserve it.
Focus on one small thing. Often we want or expect immediate change (I know I do) and the reality is that slowly small change builds to bigger change and before we know it we look back and see how far we have come.
to you ... From me.    Thank you for reaching out.