Nothing stimulates me anymore... what do I do?

Hi everyone.

I used to be a pretty happy person in the past year or so. I graduated high school, which was a tiring ordeal since I went to a rather tough one. I hung out a lot with people who I thought were my friends after the exams were over. In general I felt great. One of those friends then asked me out for drinks. It was an amazing evening and I fell for the person. But for the rest of the summer I experienced a real emotional rollercoaster because we couldn't be in contact very often, and that person felt like one of the few people in my life with whom I felt genuinely comfortable with. Then we met up for a second date after a couple of months, and for some reason I didn't feel much for the person... this wouldn't have troubled me too much otherwise (this kind of thing happens often in life, people have told me) but now I am feeling the same towards music, films and video games. None of those things stimulate me as much as they used to... and I have been having trouble empathising with friends and family, too. Occasionally I will read about or see something that moves me but that feeling is nowhere near as strong as it used to be. Now I just feel apathetic and washed out. It kind of feels like sleepiness. Sometimes I feel it less, but for about a month now I have been feeling truly "flat".

I have talked to my parents about this, because I trust them, and they say the problem will go away... but I think it hasn't. My mother won't take me seriously when I say that I should be going to therapy because I end up feeling better after some time, and this has been true in the past when I had issues with socialising. But I'm really not sure now... This issue has been damaging to my personal life as well. I don't talk to my friends as often as I used to, I don't even like many of them as much as I used to, my hygiene has gotten worse, and I have been having troubles focusing on tasks as well. I feel like I should be really worried about this but I can't even conjure up the energy to cry.

You've just described my Life, @Vlaga. Yes, it DOES seem like you're struggling A LOT! I COMPLETELY agree with you that a Therapist may be the best idea to help you cope and deal with ALL of what you're gong through! I am sorry your parents wont' take you seriously! Can I ask you how old are you? Since you've said you've graduated high school, you should be AT LEAST eighteen or older, am I correct? You're an adult and you have EVERY RIGHT to get help if you want to. My advice would be to have a REALLY SERIOUS TALK with your parents and see how it goes from there. Make them understand that you NEED and WANT help and that you want them to be supportive of you. Perhaps you can make them read some articles about Depression to make them understand that what you're going through isn't healthy. Perhaps you may even consider a Pdoc to help you with your Mood throughout Meds although that is YOUR choice. So please, definitely talk things through with them and let us know it goes with them if you want to! Wish you THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF LUCK WITH IT! Feel free to PM me ANYTIME if you need someone who'll listen WITHOUT judging you! I PROMISE YOU THAT! THAT'S A PROMISE! YOU CAN REST ASSURED OF THAT! I am SURE you're not alone iny our struggles so please reach out to ANYONE HERE as I'm SURE plenty of people will be glad to BEAUTIFULLY, KINDLY, SMARTLY, SWEETLY, CARINGLY, WISELY, INTELLIGENTLY, DEARLY, DELIGHTFULLY, CHARMINGLY, DARLINGLY, DEARLY AND WONDERFULLY HELP YOU OUT AS WELL IF YOU JUST ASK! THAT'S A PROMISE! YOU CAN REST ASSURED OF THAT! Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH YOU, @Vlaga, your Family, your Friends, your Boyfriend, your Therapist, your Pdocs and ALL of your Loved Ones! KEEP FIGHTING AND KEEP ROCKING AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY WONDERFULLY DOING ALL AND ENTIRELY BY YOURSELF AND ALL AND ENTIRELY ON YOUR OWN NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK? PLEASE NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER GIVE UP HOPE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS LIKE YOU'RE ALREADY WONDERFULLY DOING ALL AND ENTIRELY BY YOURSELF AND ALL AND ENTIRELY ON YOUR OWN!

Gosh, this sure sounds like anhedonia to me. Maybe some boredom thrown into the mix, too? In any event, I totally agree with the sage @MickeyCheeky. Yo certainly are entitled to and should see some sort of therapist or psychiatrist or both. Treatment can and will help you. You should try to talk to your parents again and emphasize that you really feel you need some outside help. I'm sure they'll respond. Don't give up! Things will get better! All the best!