finding meaning and purpose is hard

Do you guys find it hard to find purpose, direction and meaning now that you're diagnosed with mental illness?

I have schizoaffective and diabetes, disabled and unable to work. I feel purposeless. I feel like I don't matter. All I can do is get on the computer, eat and sleep. I'm in a rut.

How have you handled this?

Hi Hartbroken. It's very hard finding directions and purpose and meaning without something to attach it to. I have a hard time when I don't have a job because that's how I orient myself in life. It gives me a schedule and something to prepare for and get up and clean up for. Those are very important things. Otherwise I just drift. It seems odd with too much time nothing gets done, but that seems to be how it is.

You find a purpose and meaning that matter to you. If you're only able to go on the computer, start a blog or chat about something that matters to you.

Find an interest and research it like it's a job.

i agree i have this same problem that i spoke with my therapist about. i told her i dont see any purpose or meaning for me as i grew up with no identity. so, where is my purpose and meaning? i told my therapist i still dont see it yet

i too, don't see any purpose or reason for living.

it's a daily struggle to find reasons to want to motivate myself to even get through the day

1 of my main interests, is playing rpg games online, and chatting on forums- but then i always say, what kind of life is that?. living it virtually

hmm

shattered sanity I agree with you I read your post and like it so much.

while on meds, i found the only coping skills are honesty and physicaly self soothing like with Washcloth, but not excluded to.

I pick something and work hard at it to succeed, because doing something is better than nothing. I have to push. I dream of being pulled forward by some enthusiasm, but that seems like fantasy. It's been a lifelong problem.

I do find that all difficult but its not necessarily since being diagnosed with mental illness or because of it. I mean I don't think that makes me any less than anyone else, I see the way society treats mental illness as more of an issue than my mental illnesses themselves.

Yeah I could work if it wasn't taboo to fail at social interaction and be mentally ill. Though I guess I'd still be kind of slow and have a hard time keeping up with the work load still but maybe there would be more tolerance instead of 'well you just have to try harder and then getting fired when it doesn't matter how hard you try.

funny thing is, I think most of us have been in this spot.. I think all you can do is little by little find things that give you some satisfaction.... what is a job though?..a career? money? possessions?... we're all going to die.. and we can't take these with us... so what exactly do you have? the enjoyment/satisfaction you get in everyday life... so start finding little things that make you smile, laugh... anything.. things that make you feel good or satisfied.... there's a lot you can do just by going online too but.. if you take small steps to step outside.. and try and find little things each day to give you happiness and purpose.. you're breathing, you're living.... you're not in a rut, you're alive.. you can overcome this.

in a nutshell, thank you all for your replies. I'm not alone, and I can work slowly to find that meaning I'm desperate for. I thank you all

Dear fellow humans,

Indeed at one time or another we tend to ask something to the effect of 'Why are we here?' Most turn to some religion, others free themselves from this life early, still others remain lost. Being conscious with the ability to choose and question, poses an interesting issue: We can choose to question. With how much the human mind can be curious, or how intensely we want to know the answer, it can devastate our emotions or mental ability. Often as subconscious tension that can grow over time. It grows because when we want to know something and don't have the answer, our brain goes into 'seek information mode' and looks for any association to connect the dots. (It's kinda why we come up with answers later when we stop thinking about it) Eventually when the question is asked more frequently, an emotional connection can become tied in. More and more the question is asked and no answer is found, more this question plagues the mind. When it gets to the point it's all you can think about....let it go. Then create. Art is excellent, anything that has to do with animals and plants, or helping other people, creative writing. Anything that gives back what you put in. An answer will be found at some point.

I thought at one point that it would have to be my life's purpose to answer the question: WHY? I was in tears for an hour when I came to this conclusion. This monumental task had stood before me and I had no gear, no hint. I struggled and struggled with it, so many implications of what 'WHY?' really meant. I found the answer one day, and I cried for an hour in joy, because the answer was right in front of me in plain view. I felt like an idiot...lol. We must each find our own answers, but they are there. I hope this helps.

Love
JD

as people know by now i have a lot of free time on my hands i post here every day and this is one of my purpouses i found out as i enjoy it very much, i've learned i'm not alone anymore in my struggle with mental illness, and give and take advice from insperation on this site. i am not shy about my illness anymore, now knowing there are alot of people with similiar problems. i hope i've helped people they have overwhelmingly helped me even if i'm just reading their stories. i don't worry about the stigma with mental illness anymore either, things have changed since i was first hospitalized after a head injury, it used to be so hard to even admit i had a problem. this site was found for me by my husband and he even likes the way i can communicate now in a new way, it's easier than face to face as i have a loss for words in conversation, and writing is much easier.

Indeed we all have purpose, finding it can be the challenge:

1) Spiritual purpose can be identified by taking steps to find it, one is here

http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/

2) If (1) does not apply to your beliefs then just Knowing that having a plan (a-b-c) each day regardless of the "worlds influence" has been a benefit for me.

a-make a difference in anyone's life daily, by stepping out of your immediate surrpundings
b-be the person I want others to become
c-know that no matter how the day ends, the next is a new beginning

3) Nothing is 99% certain in dealing with our feelings; take as many steps as you can to reverse these feelings of "needed purpose'.

This has helped me, not a statistically proven plan,,,,just mine!

I can relate to this thread and its parent post so much. I have been struggling with this for some time. Right now, I feel as though my purpose is to work hard at treatment and stabilize so that I can live life with purpose and meaning. It is all I can find...