Why is legitimate Existential Crisis confused with depression ?

[Jing]

Always the preferred method of procreation. That and I'm terribly inaccurate with basters.

I've always found it much easier to spit it inside.

 

[Mike]

A few times as a child when I was ill and had a bad fever I didn't know whether I was awake or asleep and I had a dream/nightmare/hallucination in which the mathematical equation of the universe was revealed to me, It was utterly horrifying and too much for my tiny little lump of grey matter to fully comprehend. When I awoke/came out of the fever I was completely overwhelmed by a state of hopelessness and despair, a feeling of just how utterly absurd and pointless our lives really are and the dark shadow of melancholia has stayed with me all my life. I could never quite remember the exact details of the dream but I fear the answer lies dormant somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind and I think if I ever fully recall it I would go completely insane. Anyway, so yeah, just thought I'd share that cheery little tale with you

I love this Radiohead vid cos I feel that's how it would go down if I ever remembered...

I got something sort of similar once when I was on some good drugs. Only I realized life as we knew it was fictional, god was a massive disassociated consciousness. All life was a sort of simulation in an attempt to understand the nature of existence. God damn I'd never been so happy to sober up.

 

[BisexualMMA]

Because without meaning, it's all pointless. The worst part is, it's not like I'm holding onto hope that life has a meaning. I've accepted existence/life is meaningless. I'm just trying to somehow try and get through this life being happy knowing that everything I'm doing is without meaning.

It doesn't have any inherent meaning.

It has whatever meaning you give it. What do you want to get out of life? What do you want to leave behind? Do you have kids or nieces or nephews whose lives you want to improve? Do you want to add to the sum of human knowledge in some tiny way or create some kind of art that will be appreciated for some time in some small segment of the population?

Do you want to make the world a little less likely to die from pollution than if you hadn't existed?

Do you want to just maximize your cumulative visceral pleasure from now until the end of your life?

Do you want to find a different type of meaning and pursue that, or some combination of them?

I agree that there's no inherent meaning. Life's what you make it.

 

[Dayman1984]

But how many meds do I need to take before the question of Why does the Universe Exist ? gets answered ? You guys sound like my shrink who keeps harping on the idea that my depression is causing me to lose interest in this life. But how is this proven so ? How many more times do I need to have sex, or go drinking, or watch a tv show, or do whatever the hell it is that I've done a thousands plus times before it stops getting repetitive ?

Sex, I will concede is still the great escape for me. But that seems so damn shallow and empty - it's like a drug and once I'm done, the boredom and meaningless of life resumes its barrage on my senses.

As one poster above stated, life's meaning is to not die. It's difficult to find "meaning" in life. We are basically less hairy apes wandering around this planet. People used to die at 40 from stubbing their toe and getting a blood infection. I guarantee you people in Africa are less concerned about "meaning" than simply finding a good source of well water.

Life can be repetitive. It can be boring at times. But that's part of the deal of being alive. If you keep trying to find "meaning" you'll be left sorely disappointed. Try to enjoy things for what they are. Don't feel guilty for simply killing time having fun, having sex, seeing friends. There's nothing wrong with it.

 

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

have u considered developing a hard drug habit? i mean like real drugs, i hear meth and heroin are pretty cool.

 

[Jayzer193]

I have the answer you seek coffee. I can't type out a huge post right now, been super busy, but I (unfortunately, kind of) found the answer, years ago- and it sent me in another direction. I actually wrote down a lot of what you said in this thread, almost word for word, years ago.

I would like to post what I found, will be back

 

[BisexualMMA]

I have the answer you seek coffee. I can't type out a huge post right now, been super busy, but I (unfortunately, kind of) found the answer, years ago- and it sent me in another direction. I actually wrote down a lot of what you said in this thread, almost word for word, years ago.

I would like to post what I found, will be back

...then disappeared from Sherdog forever, and the world wondered if he truly had found the answer.

 

[BisexualMMA]

As one poster above stated, life's meaning is to not die. It's difficult to find "meaning" in life. We are basically less hairy apes wandering around this planet. People used to die at 40 from stubbing their toe and getting a blood infection. I guarantee you people in Africa are less concerned about "meaning" than simply finding a good source of well water.

Yes...and no. Some people find greater meanings and things that are worth dying for. Randy Quaid died to save the world from the aliens in Independence Day. Socrates drank hemlock rather than renounce his philosophies.

In some ways, animals in the wild have it pretty good. Generally speaking, a rabbit or a gazelle doesn't have to wonder about the meaning of this or that. It just experiences a mostly worthwhile life, but for sixty seconds of horrible pain at the end as the predator tears it to shreds.

Nobody is really doing the world a favor just by not dying, so I hope that most people find at least some complementary reasons for living or goals to pursue. Otherwise we're just kind of overpopulating the world and stripping it bare for no reason at all.

 

[Deleted member 409801]

...then disappeared from Sherdog forever, and the world wondered if he truly had found the answer.

Yeah.....Don't you go dieting on us dude before you come back and give us the good word.

 

[JaneJanes]

Try something crazy like making a porno. And give everybody a link to the porno.

 

[Clippys Mom]

Essentially that's what I mean. What drives you? What's important to you? That's the meaning of life. You aren't going to find some magical deity to tell you your purpose. Unless you follow a religion and take it on faith.



And yet TS isn't doing any of that. Has a great girlfriend and hasn't murdered her yet. If he truly believed it was all meaningless wouldn't he do these things and not care?



This is a stupid statement. You're saying you prefer to be sad?

Its literally unhealthy to be sad and depressed.

Each of my statements was progressively more tongue in cheek than the one previous. helax

 

[MC Paul Barman]

I've been in/out of of therapy for a several years. At face value, I have a very good life; good job, lovely girlfriend, great family, great up bringing, and good friends. I'm 36 years old.

But around the age of 25, I began feeling exhaustion with life - in that I started asking myself, Is this it ? Work, sex, meet with buddies, hang out with girlfriend, rinse and repeat ? I began looking into the religions, and frankly, they're all 100% BS so please don't bother by telling me Try Jesus.

I don't believe in God or an afterlife - this is it. I have a few more decades on this planet and I'm bored out of my mind. I used to drink - a lot. But even that has lost its appeal. Television shows that I watched with earnest in my youth seem boring. TV really does suck these days - no heart or plot. Once in a rare while I'll find a movie that I can really get lost in without looking at my smart phone every three mins such as Sideways or The Big Lewbowski.

I've been diagnosed as having mild depression/anxiety/OCD and I have taken the meds. But they ultimately don't work because all they do is suppress my emotions. Inside, the haunting reality of the meaningless of life keeps striking me in the face and I feel as lost, confused, bored, and frustrated as ever.

I keep telling the doctors the same thing: I'M NOT DEPRESSED. I'M UTTERLY BORED WITH LIFE ! They keep telling me the latter is a false conclusion of the former, but I just don't buy it.

I don't value needing a big car, or house. I enjoy my job but after a while it's all routine. I feel all I'm doing is just wasting my time until I am no longer. That's what we all do. And if you're going to tell me Go volunteer or do charity, THAT'S NOT REAL MEANING. That's, again, something I'm just doing because I ultimately have no idea why I exist, why the Universe exists, or why there is not nothing.

And there it is: WHY IS THERE NOT NOTHING ? Why is there anything ? Until this question can be answered, how I can possibly be asked to care about anything else ?

Because you don't have the same (read: constant) concern with these existential questions all the time.
Sometimes you can maintain the thought and it doesn't bother you.... other times you reflect on it and it bothers you greatly.
So, it's not just an "existential crisis".... there is something more going on than just that.

Also, try Jesus.

 

[Clippys Mom]

whose this dork and whyd you quote me and put him there

Nothing personal, I just have heard people respond to valid concerned inquiry into the meaning of life with "first world problems bro" to many times.

guess I just need to learn to "chive on"

 

[Jayzer193]

...then disappeared from Sherdog forever, and the world wondered if he truly had found the answer.

Hawww...yeaaahhhhhh.....

No, actually at my sons hockey game where typing on my cell is a no no

 

[MadSquabbles500]

I've been in/out of of therapy for a several years. At face value, I have a very good life; good job, lovely girlfriend, great family, great up bringing, and good friends. I'm 36 years old.

Sometimes in order to appreciate what you have and what you are, you need to lose what it is you have and what it is you are? You have obviously had it too good for too long. You need to get out of your shell, and go beyond your horizons.

I suggest dropping everything, go over to Syria, and join the YPG in their existential struggle against the moderate extremist or whatever level they are at now.

Or go to Africa, and help fight Boko Harem. You cannot take anything with you except the clothes on your back.

Only this way will you truly see what it is like from the other side.

I really do need to take my own advice. I kind of feel the same way as you TS, but I keep hoping, I will find the true path to all the meaning of this.

Actually I know what it is that I want, but I cannot obtain because of my family. Sometimes I wish I was an orphan or I ran away from home a long time ago, and truly be free. It is pretty immature to think this at my age, but whatev.

 

[Jayzer193]

Yeah.....Don't you go dieting on us dude before you come back and give us the good word.

Wait- I'm eating fries at the hockey game- I need to diet before I type the meaning of life on earth? Im not that out of shape, but damn, I better answer 3 or 4 months from now after several workouts.

Then I will sign the post "shredded jayzer"....

 

[philth]

At the risk of having my answer shit on by you;

Join the Big Brother program. Help be a positive role model (mentor) for a youth who needs a positivepresence in their life. If you have one in your town/city look into it. You'll get just as much out of the experience as the kid will and it may help give you some perspective in life. Trust me.
Plus you get free tickets to pretty much any major events going on in your city, and passes/tickets to rock-climbing, racing, kayaking, etc...

It sounds like you have your shit together, so help spread some happiness and put smiles on less fortunate humans faces. that is of course, if you're not really depressed and think this idea is stupid and meaningless.

 

[M3t4tr0n]

I've been in/out of of therapy for a several years. At face value, I have a very good life; good job, lovely girlfriend, great family, great up bringing, and good friends. I'm 36 years old.

But around the age of 25, I began feeling exhaustion with life - in that I started asking myself, Is this it ? Work, sex, meet with buddies, hang out with girlfriend, rinse and repeat ? I began looking into the religions, and frankly, they're all 100% BS so please don't bother by telling me Try Jesus.

I don't believe in God or an afterlife - this is it. I have a few more decades on this planet and I'm bored out of my mind. I used to drink - a lot. But even that has lost its appeal. Television shows that I watched with earnest in my youth seem boring. TV really does suck these days - no heart or plot. Once in a rare while I'll find a movie that I can really get lost in without looking at my smart phone every three mins such as Sideways or The Big Lewbowski.

I've been diagnosed as having mild depression/anxiety/OCD and I have taken the meds. But they ultimately don't work because all they do is suppress my emotions. Inside, the haunting reality of the meaningless of life keeps striking me in the face and I feel as lost, confused, bored, and frustrated as ever.

I keep telling the doctors the same thing: I'M NOT DEPRESSED. I'M UTTERLY BORED WITH LIFE ! They keep telling me the latter is a false conclusion of the former, but I just don't buy it.

I don't value needing a big car, or house. I enjoy my job but after a while it's all routine. I feel all I'm doing is just wasting my time until I am no longer. That's what we all do. And if you're going to tell me Go volunteer or do charity, THAT'S NOT REAL MEANING. That's, again, something I'm just doing because I ultimately have no idea why I exist, why the Universe exists, or why there is not nothing.

And there it is: WHY IS THERE NOT NOTHING ? Why is there anything ? Until this question can be answered, how I can possibly be asked to care about anything else ?

It's fine. Be calm. The difficulties you're experiencing are just your AI rejecting the matrix and your server is currently being rebooted. All is well...

 

[Jaxxxa]

 

[Leklok]

Get out of your comfort zone and don't be a pussy.