[Lab_Rat]

I don't know if I ever have experienced it. I've had many happy moments. But I think joy is a happiness that comes from within and stays. I totally have it made on the outside. Nice house, supportive husband, 2 well behaved kids, yet empty inside

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[Victoria'smom]

I'm sorry you feel empty on the inside. Joy to me is the ability to feel comfy and content if you had nothing on the outside.

[happy 2 b here]

Originally Posted by Lab_Rat

I don't know if I ever have experienced it. I've had many happy moments. But I think joy is a happiness that comes from within and stays. I totally have it made on the outside. Nice house, supportive husband, 2 well behaved kids, yet empty inside

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Hi Lab_Rat

Yes, I can relate to how you feel -- I also have it totally made on the outside, but feel empty, too. Along with comes guilt, and total frustration, as to why I have to put up with this every day, and,I am also amazed and so grateful for the life I live, and all my incredibly, fantastic family and friends, that love and care for me in spite of it all!!!

Some days, I am sad trying to figure it all out

Other days, I am so grateful for all that I have in my life

[Happy Camper]

I'm sort of detached or numbed from my emotions most of the time and don't really know how to verbalize or comprehend them beyond a mechanical sense. Generally I tend to feel anger, elation/euphoria, sadness, frustration, and despair. Sometimes the occasional optimism or catharsis following a period of deep and genuine emotion. I mostly just reduce this to flavors of good and bad.

I don't really feel true happiness or joy, ever. The closest thing is relief, which is its own reward. If I don't feel like severely mutilating or killing myself and I'm not struggling with apathy or thinking about how disgusting and pointless existence is, then I'm doing relatively well.

If I was happy, I don't think I would recognize it or be able to enjoy my own happiness.

[artlovr]

I've felt so empty on the inside for such a long time. I feel numbed and wish that I felt more full of life. It would feel great just to feel something.

I hope this posting doesn't get anyone "down".

[Peeps]

I so understand that feeling of having it all together on the outside and feeling hollow on the inside. The opposite of happy isn't sadness, it apathy. I "know" my life is good but I just can't quite feel it. For me, it's as if what I know intellectually and what I feel emotionally just don't quite line up. I have had a hard time articulating this experience so it feels kind of nice to know I'm not alone. Thank you all for sharing.

[Lab_Rat]

It is good to know I'm not the only one too. Even when I feel pretty good, there's no passionate feeling or enthusiasm for anything. I agree that the opposite of happy is apathy.

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[Lab_Rat]

I also agree with Happy Camper in regards to the "relief" of coming out of the dark place. Even though I know I'll go back, the relief is a great feeling.

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