[Billtrick]

Does anyone else feel so entirely overwhelmed by all that there is to know about the world? Does anyone else get depressed over all of the things they will never be privy to knowing? Lately this thought has been pounding the back of my skull like drum. It usually doesn't travel to far from that thought. I think about any number of topics that I am interested in like literature/ poetry, psychology and human behavior. And then I think of all of the other sciences and disciplines and I want to at least have a basic understanding of some of them. but I am coming to a realization that I am just not mentally capable enough to handle those complex fields of inquiry. and That usually drives me to suicidal ideation. The world is becoming more and more complex and the thoughts that occupy my mind are so, so simple. I can't seem to escape this loop of thought. I suppose that is what is known as rumination. My mind won't let this go. and now my mind is shutting down and it is becoming difficult to write. Can anyone else shed light on this for me? Because I am so constantly confused and am having trouble making sense of anything. Is this normal to depression?

[RenouncedTroglodyte]

I went through the same thing. I want to gain all the knowledge in our universe, but come to think of it, it's impossible to know everything. Science has theorized that our universe was formed by the collision of other universes, which is only one of the theories. Do we know anything about those other universes? CAN we know anything about them? So far, inevitably, no. I mean, our galaxy, the Milky Way alone, if light had to travel across it, it will take 100,000 years, i.e. light years. Remember, there's always a starting point to anything. If you want to know about cosmological physics for example, then use this little information I gave you to go deep into it (if you didn't know it already!!). If you want to know about poetry, then start with a famous poem, read it and analyse it, and know the metaphors and imageries, and if you are more curious, dive into the history of the poet, see who influenced him, see the circumstances that particular poem was based on, and so on.

This is definitely normal, but it also means that you are aiming at gaining insight and knowledge, which is something not a lot of people ask for. You are unique! That got me depressed once, but instead of allowing it to get you depressed, let it make you more determined, but remember, one step at a time! Knowledge won't be gained in a blink. And please, don't set limitations to your mind. The brain is so powerful and flexible that if you convince yourself of something other than what you already think of it, your brain will alter the image you have of it with this new one. Convince yourself that you can do it, and your mind will simultaneously go along.

[Billtrick]

It's not that I necessarily want to know everything. But I am in a place where my education as left me so far behind in comparison to a good portion of people. it is not necessarily justhe the knowledge that I want, I want to have a framework to work from that allows me to learn . I have started doing what you suggested I do awhile back. And i have made a little progress. but it has also been in a time of my worst depression. And it is beginning to feel like a fools errand and that I am so fundamentally idiotic, that I give up to easily. I am also on seroquel which has rendered me even more useless. I can hardly get through any studying. It is difficult enough to do basic cognitive tasks. Thank You For Your Suggestions And Encouragement. I will try to keep that in mind.

[RenouncedTroglodyte]

The moral of what said, is to make pleasure reading a refreshment or training to help you get going with your studies. I know I might have went to far with the explanation, but that's just me. Choose one of the topics that intrigue you the most, and use it to your advantage.