[Johnny...]

I feel very empty, all the time I think. It's not necessarily painful although sometimes it can be uncomfortable. But for the most part, I just feel distant, like everything is happening but I'm so stuck in my head obsessing that I'm not really apart of it. I was just wondering if this kind of thing happens to anyone else, the emptiness and that constant distance from everything. If so, I'd like to hear about it, if you want to share of course.

[winter4me]

I have periods of time where I do feel this way, it was more often and lasted much longer (months, even a year or two) when I was much younger.
It is like having something between your self and the rest of the world, mine felt like a thin glass wall through which I can see and be seen, hear and be heard, but all in a muted, deadened manner, as if the 'glass' also had the same effect as acoustic tiles. Empty all around. The lack of pain is, I think, a protective mechanism. Feeling the empty is excruciatingly painful. During these times, many other people saw me as "aloof" at best "uncaring", or worse.

[avlady]

Excrutiating pain, i can relate to that!!! I don't remember when it started, i think it was when i was hit by a truck crossing the street, it left me empty and hurt. I always wondered if that was what caused me pain, and i feel the pain every day too, all day long.

[CaptainKirk]

It's like I can't relate to anyone, even people I can relate to. Which makes no sense now that I think about it. It makes me feel distant...

[nevereatmyface]

I feel like that all the time. I just so stuck obsessing over something, everything, that I just don't feel apart of the world anymore. It's almost as though I'm just looking at everything. I hate the feeling, because I want to fix the stuff that makes me sad and mad, but I'm stuck just thinking about it.
I also just don't know how to tell people how I feel. Everyone says that they can relate to what I'm saying, but no one really gets me. No one understands how I feel, and no one takes the time to understand. It just leads to more obsessing and more stalling and more depression.
I also agree with CaptainKirk.

[gnat]

I get that way from time to time. I'm there right not. I feel most like a marionette, moving through life, but someone else is pulling the strings. The smile painted on my face presents the appropriate moood, but I'm not really feeling it. The feeling is somewhat sad, but better then where I'd be if I let myself completely feel, participate, and live. Right now that's where I am on my good days.

[Thunder Bow]

With drawing is a way of coping with things you feel you can't control.

[gayleggg]

When I'm depressed(like now) I feel empty and distant. I find it hard to carry on conversations. I don't feel like part of the it. Just want everyone to leave me alone and let me sufer in silence.

[happy 2 b here]

Originally Posted by gayleggg

When I'm depressed(like now) I feel empty and distant. I find it hard to carry on conversations. I don't feel like part of the it. Just want everyone to leave me alone and let me sufer in silence.

I have felt this way for a very long time -- trying to work my way out of it -- but the depression is very strong -- has incredible control over me -- I feel powerless over it

[yellowted]

i have a lot of time when i feel like i am in a glass jar looking out on the world, but the world can't get to me, the emotions one should feel are outside my jar so are not within me, this is a reaction to abuse, it is the way my mind deals with the hurt and pain it brought to me. a kind of self preservation, if i keep those feelings outside my jar they can't hurt me anymore, like wise if i keep people outside i can't be hurt by them either.
only sometimes the lid gets loosened and the odd person is allowed in for a short time untill i panic and push them back out again.

[WorkInProgress16]

I get like this when my depressive days hit and back when I was doing SI and had frequent suicidal thoughts. I'm not sure how or why but it happens less and less now. I wish I could be more of a help. If you have depression getting that under control could possibly help.

[~EnlightenMe~]

Yes, I do at times, I think, but I'm not sure. I obsess like crazy. I can't tell if it is something I am afraid of or if it is just anxiety. I am SOOO over myself. Then I will have moods, like feeling like going shopping, that suddenly disappear. WTheck? After therapy, I was adamant that I had to get reassurance from him, and that has calmed. I have no idea if this fits in this category or not, but I never feel I fit in a category. If it doesn't answer the question, please disregard.

[cool09]

How well do you socialize? Do you get bothered by little things?

Study some Philosophy and you'll see a huge difference between Eastern and Western Society. The West is alienated from everything inside and outside of themselves (afraid of feelings/emotions, dislike the way they look, etc.). And life all around the World is a drama and you are forced to play whether you like it or not. Listen to Alan Watts (Philosopher) lectures and he explains all of this very well. Watts says If you don't have game to play [the drama] you must decide what to do with yourself. Drama ends up killing the true self inside of you. (This is the idea which the Hindu Religion is based on).