Hi Skeezyks, I'd say this thread could run, and run, and run on the why's........you know culture, technology, today's standards/expectations/opportunities.............so I'll just take the what to say bit if that's OK
And you know maybe you're thinking a little too hard on this?? Because I'd say you know (and show on here!!) a lot more than than you think you do.
It can often be impossible to know exactly what's going on for someone, because everyone is going to experience the world differently and that's where understanding, caring and empathy come in. Which you have loads of!!!
You're talking to someone who is depressed, feeling hopeless, feeling that nothing is ever going to change for them, or they can't see how they can change a thing (haven't even got the energy to want to).........doesn't necessarily matter if they're 16, 27 or 50 really the feelings are the same and you know what that's like, who better to understand them/to empathize with them?? And just knowing that someone "gets it", cares, wants to listen, is there for you can matter a lot. And when it comes to possibilities out there you know from experience (seeing, hearing, watching, reading, doing............things) some of the maybe's. But hey, check out more, if you want.
Although you know it's not always about giving answers it's sometimes about supporting people to a place where they can better find their own answers. Sure suggestions are good (and sometimes they might work, but.....) but sometimes just by throwing them in it can help people gradually, when they are able, think "maybe........" and lead them to asking more questions for themselves and finding their own answers.
And....."Nothing one can say seems to help", "I keep trying to think of what one could say to a young adult who feels absolutely hopeless to help them to lift themselves back up" well I know you know this too..........sometimes with depression, hopelessness, helplessness there aren't any "magical words", and getting to the point of being able to help someone to the point of lifting themselves back up can sometimes take a long time. Depression certainly isn't easy to beat!! But bit by bit words can hopefully gather significance. So even if it seems that what you're saying might be falling into nothingness it might be that those words are a few of the ten thousand (????) words it might take to get to the point of...........and does it really matter if your words number ten, twenty or ten thousand. They all matter just as much.
And I'll tell you Skeezyks, from your posts you have definitely, absolutely thrown words/comments in there that count, if not always on their own if someone is really depressed, then that count towards that ten thousand (???). And that is one of the amazing things about here, right? How everyone works together in their own way towards.................
Some people you can help more than others just because sometimes there is/isn't as much of a "connection" between you but..................
So don't be disheartened, don't over think, just be yourself, you're already "doing it" because
And I'm sure a lot of us can learn a lot form you (I know I can!!!!)



Alison