[Rose76]

To @TheGal - I'm sorry for what you're going through. I went through that with 2 family members. One didn't have lung cancer and one did. Your mom must be so glad that you're by her side.

[TheGal]

I am sorry for your losses, Rose76... it can be so truly difficult.

Thank you for reaching out.


(((( Hugs ))))

[T4bbyCat]

Originally Posted by 3rd rock

I am feeling extremely depressed due to my inability to succeed as an author. I am trying to work on a new project, but the passion is gone. However, I must continue because if I don't write then I have nothing in life, no hopes, no dreams, no aspirations except to get out of bed in the morning and go back to bed in the evening, just depressing, crippling mediocrity. Also, I have a strange rash that won't go away. I'm trying to apply an over-the-counter cream to it. I'll see if that works. If it doesn't, I'll have to see a doctor about it.

These are hard times for authors. Strangely enough, my boss from a couple decades ago was recently in the news -- he was forced to suspend submissions to his sci-fi magazine because of all the fake AI-generated stories sent to his publication. (He was my boss when I was worked at a computer help desk, but he founded his own publishing business a while back.)

I don't know whether all the ChatGPT stuff is involved here, but it seems to be killing the publishing business with low-quality, AI-faked mediocre content. If you can outdo this with real content, you might have a foot in the door (and possibly snowballing success).

[cool09]

Today's my bday. I feel like I have nothing left inside of me. Been fighting mental illness for 45 years. I spent 3 wks in hospital last mth and most of the staff ignored me when I asked for help.

[Buffy01]

I been struggling :hug with my depression to feel better

[SlumberKitty]

Originally Posted by cool09

Today's my bday. I feel like I have nothing left inside of me. Been fighting mental illness for 45 years. I spent 3 wks in hospital last mth and most of the staff ignored me when I asked for help.

Happy Birthday. I know you might not feel like celebrating, but I want you to know that I am celebrating you. HUGS Kit

[SlumberKitty]

My depression really bites right now. It's like a black hole sucking me in.

[Rose76]

It's so long since I've felt normal. I'm going to look through my old posts to try to find one where I say that I'm doing good. I just want some evidence that I have had the capacity to be ok. I'm sure there were times when I was fine. I just have to get back to that.

The plumber has to come back Monday to finish work on the water heater. So my kitchen won't go back to normal, until then.

Anxiety is making me crazy.

[Breaking Dawn]

Originally Posted by 3rd rock

Thank you for your kind words.

I am feeling unwell, also because I went to a funeral on the weekend. It was for my mother's uncle, who was one of the last surviving members of my family's eldest generation. It makes me feel like a part of my life is being taken from me when all the people I recall from my childhood are dying, even if I understand this is a normal and natural part of life.

As well, the funeral involved a reception afterwards, and social situations are deeply uncomfortable and distressing for me. There were two people who brought dogs, though. I love animals and the dogs they brought were very friendly, so that helped. One was a three month old puppy who was so excited when I went to pet him that he literally peed himself! That put a smile on my face and eased my social anxiety somewhat, at least for a moment.

Thank you so much for writing this!! You are actually a wonderful writer!! My heart got filled with what you shared with us. Thank you, dear @3rd rock!!

[Breaking Dawn]

Originally Posted by SlumberKitty

My depression has been moderate to severe. I wish it were better. I am on two antidepressants and talk therapy. It never seems to end.

God bless you, dear Kit.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by cool09

Today's my bday. I feel like I have nothing left inside of me. Been fighting mental illness for 45 years. I spent 3 wks in hospital last mth and most of the staff ignored me when I asked for help.

Happy birthday

[Rose76]

Anxiety on top of depression is miserable - like there's a faceless monster hovering over my head that I just can't get away from.

I'm being referred to a pdoc. I saw him 4 years ago and didn't like him. I'll see him again, only because I'm desperate.

[EndlessDark]

I give up. I just want the courage to put an end to things

[Rose76]

As bad as I felt yesterday, I managed to feel even worse today.

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by SlumberKitty

My depression really bites right now. It's like a black hole sucking me in.

I completely understand how your feeling because I been there myself.

[Buffy01]

I just wish :hug that I could snap out of my depression

I just finished cleaning. It took me less time because I didn't get the mop handle that I've been waiting for. I cleaned the floors that I normally use the mops for. It wasn't the same and doesn't look as good as before. That got me down.

My friend and I argued on the phone last night and it seemed insipid to me . He's fully recovered from the side effects from the surgery now. You might say it's ironic that, since he's feeling much better, he has become more argumentative than when he wasn't feeling well. He seemed much nicer when he wasn't feeling well than now. So that got me depressed.

I'm feeling depressed because of the arguing, not getting my mop handle, and the cold & rain outside that's been constant

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by Rose76

As bad as I felt yesterday, I managed to feel even worse today.

I’m so sorry that you are feeling bad yesterday and today :hug . I hope you’re start feeling better soon

[Breaking Dawn]

Better today.

[Rose76]

I'm better today. I woke up with that awful anxiety simmered down. Tired.

[3rd rock]

Originally Posted by T4bbyCat

These are hard times for authors. Strangely enough, my boss from a couple decades ago was recently in the news -- he was forced to suspend submissions to his sci-fi magazine because of all the fake AI-generated stories sent to his publication. (He was my boss when I was worked at a computer help desk, but he founded his own publishing business a while back.)

I don't know whether all the ChatGPT stuff is involved here, but it seems to be killing the publishing business with low-quality, AI-faked mediocre content. If you can outdo this with real content, you might have a foot in the door (and possibly snowballing success).

I've been thinking on this as well. I'm worried AI programs will soon be capable of producing substantive, qualitatively passable written works and whether this will be the end of creative writing as a profession. I know AI is currently not capable of producing competent creative writing, but technology is advancing so fast that could change soon. That said, I don't currently make any money from my creative writing, so the worst is that will not change and I'll continue to just do it for the love of the work, abandoning any dreams of success. Which I've all but done now, anyways.

I've completed a first chapter of a first draft of a novel. It's a young adult novel I've had in the back of my mind for some time now. I'll keep working on it and I hope I can finish a complete first draft within 3 or 4 months. It will take me a minimum of 1 year to complete this project fully. I hope I can stay committed and work through doubts.

[Buffy01]

Ibeen feeling awful after my niece started yelling and threatening me today I feel like I can’t do anything right sadhug: around my niece or her boyfriend .

[Samicat]

I am new, so Hello.

I am feeling severely anxious and depressed lately. It does vary throughout the day, with the worst time being nights when I get tired. I am over-sleeping and tried Abilify which worked for me before, but I had to come off it because I was hardly sleeping at all and extremely anxious. I am on some other meds.

A lot of stress in the past year. Debt, moving. I lost my psychiatrist of 13 years when she retired early. I really miss her. I've had a lot of illness as well. I have a good relationship with my husband but that can be stressful too as he is disabled.


This is NOT a good time of year for me as I'm tired of winter and snow and rain and general darkness. I've tried a daylight lamp but it didn't help me. I think my dislike of this time of year has more to do with it being less appealing to spend time outside. Also it seems like everyone is tired and sick of winter.

I'm 54 and currently on medical leave from work and trying to rebuild my physical and mental health. Once I am cleared to work, I plan to quit and seek work elsewhere because the job is toxic.

[Samicat]

Originally Posted by 3rd rock

I've been thinking on this as well. I'm worried AI programs will soon be capable of producing substantive, qualitatively passable written works and whether this will be the end of creative writing as a profession. I know AI is currently not capable of producing competent creative writing, but technology is advancing so fast that could change soon. That said, I don't currently make any money from my creative writing, so the worst is that will not change and I'll continue to just do it for the love of the work, abandoning any dreams of success. Which I've all but done now, anyways.

I've completed a first chapter of a first draft of a novel. It's a young adult novel I've had in the back of my mind for some time now. I'll keep working on it and I hope I can finish a complete first draft within 3 or 4 months. It will take me a minimum of 1 year to complete this project fully. I hope I can stay committed and work through doubts.

Hey there. I write too

I mostly write SF&F and have published short stories for money (although not much!). Am currently 7 chapters into a novel. Previously wrote a vampire novel but no publishers are looking at them thanks to the post-Twilight glut.


Anyway good luck. It's rewarding yet lonely at times. Do you have a writing group?

[Rose76]

Today was better than my days have been recently. Part of that was because I got a refill on my Vicodin (hydrocodone and Tylenol.) I had used up last month's supply before the month was over. When I go 3 days without a tablet, I start to withdraw. For me, that means the onset of "restless leg syndrome" or what could be called akathesia. It's maddening.

I started tidying up my place, which always makes me feel better. There are still boxes of Christmas stuff piled up in the livingroom. I believe now that I can get the chaos organized. I've regained some faith in me.