Will I Ever Feel Good Again?

I have been diagnosed with depression from my doctor and I feel like it's no surprise to me. But lately in my life (or I should say for the last few years) it seems like there are no happy times. Just nothing but bad stuff going on. I know that my life is pretty good, but there had been challenges that try me.

In the last few years I've had some health concerns. And I've been feeling that my job has been a threat that it's going to end. It's a constant feeling. My finances has taken a dive. I didn't spend foolishly. I've been very frugal. It's just that I had a sizable medical bill and it's hard to put money away. And then there's a lot of bad things happening to people I know. And friends are hard to keep and make.

So I don't know if I just have depression or if it's circumstantial.

Hi Will, I think as we get older it does get harder to make friends. I spent much of my life really with only one close friend. This sounds to me, possibly your biggest contributor to the depression. I've seen you on the depression check-ins. So I know you exercise often, you have a job... but wondering if you have hobbies or groups in your area you could join to expand your social circle? I understand health issues as well, I have several and lately they aren't getting better. Finances are a big stress, I guess I just wanted to say that while I can't understand completely, we are all in this depression together. I hope it lifts for you. I can be better for a while but it seems like it has just become part of my life and I deal with it one day,, sometimes less than that, a moment at a time.
Have you done anything just for you lately? I noticed you say you've been frugal, but if possible, set some money away for yourself to do something you've always wanted to do. Best wishes to you.

I hope you will feel good again! Do you have any options to go to a counselor, and has your doc had you try any antidepressants? The antidepressants have helped me, at least certain ones. It's hard to see good when so much negative stuff is going on, but maybe trying to focus on what is going right could at least make little pockets of relief. Even for a few minutes. I hope you find something that will help!

Probably both. Depression makes everything else feel worse. Hang in there it can get better.

Pretty much through my life in the last few years, I would have just one real good friend. I feel that it's all that I need. I have a good friend now who's an old man (80). He's very caring, but we are not alike personally. There are times that he can be very critical; more than he has to be. He reminds me of my late Dad. I feel like I wouldn't know what to do without him. It's hard to get together with him because we live fairly far apart. And, believe it or not, he has things going on during the weekends; and he's retired!

I exercise by working out and I do it at home. I tried the gym (so many have suggested that for me), but I absolutely hated it. It's so much better for me at home. And I go bike riding by myself.

I am introverted and seem to become more that way as I've gotten older. I don't like crowds that much and I'm not comfortable with strangers; at least in a place where there's a whole lot of them. I have tried the groups that are to my interest. But I felt like they didn't work out very well as far as being able to connect for friendship making.

Money has been tight for me. I do well at putting some away; and then something happens that's unexpected. That money I did well to save up is gone because of something unexpected. Recently I was doing well, and then a good amount of money had to go.

Also I am aware of how well I have my life going for me. I thank God for it and list to Him all of the good things that I have; in which I feel that He has provided for me. And it helps. But on the other hand, it seems like things should be better for me; like it used to be for those around my age decades ago. I feel threatened with finances, people are not genuinely friendly, and at my job the moods are very low. Just recently people at a division at where work are getting let go. They have been with the company longer than I have and they appear to be around my age. How are middle-aged and older guys going to get jobs with the way things are going now?

So, in the last part of the last paragraph, that's why I feel very low. Thank you for replying to me (and others). I thought that no one was going to reply since it had been two days and no one replied until today.