kag101

OP is: >> Not excited for what's ahead in his life >> Not suicidal, but feels like life is a burden. >> No feeling of belongingness and joy for being a human. >> No inner freedom. He feels like a slave and imprisoned. >> Doesn't get any peace whatsoever, except when he is asleep (because he feels it is a certain type of death) This is like a textbook case of depression.

I don't stop taking it. In fact, one of the most common problems with people who start taking antidepressant is that once they start to feel better; they stop the medication. But this illness doesn't work like that. Depression, which is the cause of my social anxiety, has no cure. The medication helps me to get it under control. If I stop taking it, I will feel shitty once again; and social anxiety will creep in once again. It's just like someone who has diabetes. It has no cure, but if the person takes insulin in a correct way, the problem will not manifest. Therefore, continuous use is required. I spent MANY years trying to overcome it through all sorts of alternative methods, such as affirmations, visualization, yoga, psychedelics, cannabis, meditation, comfort zone challenges; but none of which were effective in the long run. In fact, they did much more harm than good. If I had only sought a high-quality traditional treatment 10 years ago, I wouldn't have suffered so much.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Seek professional help. You are sick. The chemicals in your brain are out of balance. What you described is a classic description of clinical depression. Well, from this, we can say that at least you don't have suicidal tendencies. So, if you don't treat your depression adequately, you'll live 60 more years in a distorted version of reality. I like this analogy: depression is like wearing a glass with which you can only see B&W. Even though other people tell you about the beautiful colors of the world, you can't see it. But just because you don't see it, that doesn't mean colors don't exist. I've been there. For many years I was a prisoner of depression. And it was a battle that was impossible to win by myself. Medication was a must for me. Yeap. The same with me. Sleep was the only time that I could have a break from my endless mental chattery & rumination. @Mikael89 @Red-White-Light I hope you guys get better! I know how painful it is to be in that place! But there is hope, because science works!

“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” --Carl Sagan

By the way you're trying to "enlighten" me, as if you were in the "Now", and you know that I am steps behind you. Eckhart Tolle does a lot of that. I find it very irritating, because it is as if he was in the pedestal of the "Now". He has entered the Ultimate Reality, and all the people who are listening to him are lost in the "egoic mind". So he says something to effect of: "There is no past or future, the only thing that exists is the (deep tone of voice) Now. You see? This moment. Not that what you're thinking, but the Eternal...... NOW." He basically tries to make people enter the "portal" of the present moment. From my personal experience, the people who speak the most about being in the present are the ones who are the least in touch with it.

I don't justify it. I am aware of the suffering it causes. I am not a hypocrite. I was a vegan for 4 years. And I used to have a feeling of moral superiority over people who eat meat.

I wouldn't say I am "cured" from Social Anxiety, but it is certainly tamed. I fought this demon for more than a decade. I'd win some fights here and there, but it was clear that I was losing the war. In my case, I came to the conclusion that my SAD was directly related to my untreated clinical depression. So, as soon as I started to take an antidepressant that was effective for me, social anxiety simply disappeared -- like magic. Now, I feel like myself once again. My natural self. Sure, there are some aspects that I am still working on with my psychotherapist, but the pathological aspect of shyness is gone. I now actually look forward to stepping out of my comfort zone. Before, that would be torture. But now it feels more like an adventure.

Hopefully not.

Without imposing duality, there is nothing. There is no Yin without Yang. Proven record? I'd like for you to show me that. Or are you talking about online testimonials? There are bad psychiatrists, and there are good psychiatrists. Like in any other profession. Which resources are you referring? I honestly don't remember because people in this topic have mentioned dozens of them. I have experimented with plenty of "alternative" (aka not proven) resources. I'd get better for a while, and then... BAM... I'd hit rock bottom once again. Sounds like you haven't figured out that you're being really condescending. Thank you They are the best chance someone have to get better. Sure, you might come across with a bad professional. Then, you have to keep searching. Which variables? Are you implying that because I noticed that you were projecting something onto me; that means I am also projecting something onto you? What things am I rejecting? Why do you think that is so? Idk who the guy you quoted said, but yeah... psychiatry can certainly be a life-changing thing for those who really need it (like myself).

Omg... that's soooo neurotic. My suggestion: install Tinder and go out with "unattractive" girls, so that you practice. If you think you can get "HBs" right off the bat, then you're bound to fail. It's like learning how to play the piano. You have to start with simple and easy songs. Master the basics. If a beginner tries to play, for example, Hungarian Rhapsody N. 2 (which is a very difficult piece), it's definitely not going to work.

Yes!

No, don't fool yourself.

It seems like you're suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. What do you think?

“Do you want to improve the world? I don't think it can be done. The world is sacred. It can't be improved. If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it. If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it. There is a time for being ahead, a time for being behind; a time for being in motion, a time for being at rest; a time for being vigorous, a time for being exhausted; a time for being safe, a time for being in danger. The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way, and resides at the center of the circle.” ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

I don't agree. The joy of expecting something is nowhere near as good as experiencing the joy of something good happening in the present moment. I am going to give a very extreme example. Imagine a person who has the flu, and you say: "Oh, don't rush into the future. All you have is the eternal Now. No need to think about your symptoms. Just focus on this exact moment. You see? Your homeostasis is already here, in the Now. No need to go anywhere, no need to do anything." I'm a big fan of utilizing the right resources, the ones that have proven-record of getting good results. Bleh... I couldn't care less whether I am in the "now" or not, or whether I know that I am "always in the now" or not. All I care is: 1) Am I feeling happy on a consistent basis? 2) Is my life is heading to the direction that I want? I tried for many years to live 100% in the "present". I would try so hard that I would, paradoxically, completely get out of touch with it. Now that I have let go of this idea I feel like I am truly living in the here and now. Thank you! She has a doctorate on psychology, and she told me she focuses on psychoanalysis. But, really, the technique per se is not the most important thing. That being said, I think it's really important to have a psychotherapist and not just a therapist. In other words, someone who is actually graduated in psychology. “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul.” --Carl Jung What exactly do you mean by your claim that "the person doesn't exist"? Is it that the sense of self is an illusion? Or is it that reality as a whole is not real? I know where you're coming from, but I completely disagree with that. I got good news for you: it is possible to neutralize those "waves of deep spells of depression". Science has evolved enough to give effective treatment that can balance you out. And the treatment is... wait for it... guess what, psychotherapy and meds. I myself couldn't be having better results. Seriously, after my doctor found the right medication & dosage, I feel like a different person. I don't want to give people unrealistic expectations, but my experience has been that, now, I am actually enjoying life. I have the energy to face challenges and engage in meaningful activities and focus on my Life Purpose. And I don't have deep worthless existential crisis anymore. I personally don't like the word "enlightenment", because it seems like a magical thing and very prone to self-delusion. I prefer to focus on self-actualization. Call me "stage orange" all you want, but I couldn't care less about "Absolute Truth", I want to take be the master of my life. It's like being a sailor. Should I let the sea take me to wherever it leads me to? No! Even though I can't control the sea, I can become a good sailor. The ego (the sailor) is there for a reason. Otherwise, we would accept whatever life -- or as you put it "Absolute Truth" -- does to us, and we would quickly die. Let's take a depressed person as an example: "I can't get out of bed. I don't see the point in living. I hate my job. I hate my spouse. I don't feel fulfilled. Sometimes all I want is to disappear and dream forever. But, you what? I am not going to do anything. Everything is perfect as it is." There's nothing spiritual about passivity; this is actually called spiritual bypassing. Thanks a lot, man! Yes, there is hope. But there must also be right action. I had to take the first step, and force myself to go to a psychiatrist. The first one was pretty crappy. But I eventually found a good one. If I hadn't taken action, I would very likely still be feeling shitty and zombie-like. Anyway, thank you very much for the kind words! I am sorry, but your anecdotal experience doesn't confirm or dis-confirm anything. To say, one can "snap out" off clinical depression by being there for oneself is nonsense. Some cases of severe depression can make the person not even have the energy to eat or take a shower. So, I ask you: How on Earth could a person in that state of mind could offer emotional support to himself? Bingo! However, read what you wrote here to yourself, but change "psychotherapy" to "your resources". That's my response to you. What you did here was nothing but a projection. I am not fiercely defending psychotherapy and psychiatry. I am simply describing my experience, and questioning your arguments. This strategy has worked for me and so it does to millions of people. And the results are not just anecdotal, they were obtained through rigorous guidelines. No, it is not. First of all, there is such a thing called chemical imbalance. Therefore, no, the abundance is not always present within me. I wonder if you'd say to a suicidal person, someone who hasn't had a good day in years, who is suffering from severe panic attacks daily: "Oh... you don't need to seek help. All the resources are already within yourself. You just have to get in touch with it." Thank you! Yes, I think this is indeed the best time of my life. I had glimpses in the past of well-being and wellness, but they never lasted. Depression would soon or later creep in, and would deplete all my vitality.

Yes, those two are commonly confused with each other. Here are some excerpts from an article by someone who suffers from Depersonalization Disorder: A lot of people who are mentally unstable are drawn to spirituality as an attempt to justify their sick mental condition. I think that a good rule-of-thumb is to meet with a good spiritual teacher--preferably face-to-face--on a frequent basis. He or she will quickly spot if you're on the wrong track. The odds of falling into traps while doing spiritual work are VERY high. And a teacher can help you get unstuck. Otherwise, it might take years for you to realize you were on a dead-end.

No, I won't. And does alternative medicine make them better? No, my health did not come effortlessly to me. I have a chronic illness. For more than a decade, I tried virtually all the alternative methods. In the end, they were nothing but placebo. I would feel better for a while, but sooner or later the illness would come back (oftentimes even stronger). I used to hold many silly and conspiratory beliefs about Western medicine. And only when I finally turned towards it was I able to control my illness. There is no cure, but there is control. Alternative medicine usually make very bold promises, but offers no evidence that it actually works. It gives false hopes to people. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" -- Carl Sagan Omg, talk about butthurt! Lol Why so? What's the difference between those two?

Take a break from Instagram. Not use it for a few days, or weeks. Btw - That sounds pretty neurotic.

Maybe you can take a break?

It seems as though his 100% carnivore diet that supposedly "cures depression & almost all diseases" didn't really work. What a surprise... Does untreated depression enter the equation? Exactly. Unfortunately, it seems that he's still relying on alternative treatments. This reminds me of how Steve Jobs tried to cure his cancer, and the consequences of that... It's crazy how very intelligent people can believe in pseudoscience. Lol, sorry, but I don't buy into that stuff. And I think it's dangerous how this idea is frequently repeated in spiritual circles. "Oh... but Eckhart Tolle..." Am I allowed to say that imo he's not truly awakened? Do you really need someone to give you an answer to that?

You can't be awake all the time. You have to sleep as well (literally and figuratively). Regarding wanting to be alone all the time, from my experience, this is a red sign. To fully self-actualized, you also need to learn how to deal with people. Communication is a skill we all need to develop if we want to achieve our highest potential. There was a time in my life where I would trip balls almost every weekend. I would feel amazing, in "alignment with the Universe". as if I had accessed the Ultimate Truth, and all that stuff. But then, as soon as I needed to interact with others, I would lose touch of that feeling. This made me want to isolate more and more. Nowadays, I can see that those experiences were actually a false awakenings. I learned this concept when I was into lucid dreaming, and I think it can be applied to spirituality as well. Take a look: True awakening must be a well-rounded thing. If it's something one can only "access" by being alone/on psychedelics/etc, then I think this person is half-assing self-actualization work. Ideally, all areas of one's life should be advancing.

There are footages of Buddhist monks immolating themselves with fire, and they did not move a single muscle. That being said, for 99,99% of people, that's highly far-fetched. It would take MASSIVE amounts of training to accomplish something like that. I think increasing one's tolerance to pain is doable, but to completely "transcend" it? Virtually impossible, imo. Here's a concept I really like that can help you out with this: superconductor. That is, if you are able to have zero resistance to what is happening--no matter how painful or uncomfortable it is--you'd theoretically not suffer. Again, having zero resistance is very unrealistic. That would be just an ideal. I find that in my life, if I am able to resist less, that already helps me a lot get thought hard shit! Leo has a great episode on this: On the other hand, many people--especially the ascetics in India--get used to feeling pain. They sleep in beds of nail, keep their arms lifted 24/7, and do other kinds of extreme practices. I experimented with that when I was doing Strong Determination Sittings. For instance, I'd go to a mountain that had many mosquitoes. I would let them bite me, and tolerate the pain. After a while, I'd get used to the discomfort and pain. But in reality, I wasn't more "conscious", I simply got desensitized. That's all. Nowadays, I don't see any value in doing things like this. Osho talks a lot about this: I hope that helps!

Stop with this categorization of people! "Blast their minds"? Lol. I'd bet you'd bore the hell out of them. Omg... what does "reveal turquoise" is supposed to mean? Sorry, but I think you're nowhere near as self-developed as you think you are. You sound like a religious person who thinks: "Oh... I want to introduce the word of God to these sinful people. Are they ready though?" I'd suggest, instead, you hang out with them someday. Go to a bar or something. If you do so, are you able to forget about self-development during that time -- and just let yourself go, laugh, and enjoy the moment?