Depression has quite literally taken everything from me, and feelings of despair and hopelessness dominate my life. Increasingly I am left asking myself 'If this is all my life is ever going to be, then what is the point of existing, because this is no life'.
A bit about me...
I'm a 20 year old male, currently at Uni. I have serious self-esteem issues, have been struggling with low moods since at least 16, mainly due to bad bullying at school and poor family relationships.
I have a lot of 'demons' and issues, and I won't go into them all here...
However.. I have abused alcohol for at least the past 18 months. It is now a problem I have under control. I turned to drink to combat severe loneliness and to try and block out thoughts and feelings which have plagued me for years. I knew it wouldn't work, and it doesn't. But it became a mechanism by which I could in a strange way escape. I'd often drink to the point of passing out, and as strange as it sounds this was almost a relief, because for that evening I didn't have to think about those dark thoughts. I appreciate in the long-term alcohol will only have made things worse. I can drink in moderation, and have tried to cut down my solo drinking sessions, but my dark thoughts persist.
I'm now at Uni and *should* be happy, but I'm not. In fact, these are the darkest days I have faced. I have no motivation left to do anything. I have exams over a period of the next month. If I pass them a miracle will have occurred. The truth is, my motivation has gone. I ask what I'm working towards when I live a life of such despair anyway. Aren't these supposed to be the best days of my life, if they are, what on earth have I to bother about?
I'm not sure whether this should be in the sexual health section - I've placed it here because depression is my main problem, and I believe it to be the main reason I am having the problems I am today.
I have suffered with questions over my sexuality, and am now fully accepting of the fact I am gay. This has been a big thing for me to conclude because much of the bullying at school was homophobic in nature, so I was almost conditioned to believe that coming to terms with that being my identity would prove those individuals right and be an admission that I was a lesser person. My dad is also a devout catholic, and I know the fact I am gay will always mean I am less of the son he wanted me to be, and I will always be a let-down to him in that regard.
However, I have no libido or sex drive and haven't done for about six months at least. I have stopped masturbating, and can't remember the last time I had a proper erection. I attribute this to depression, and a general loss of hope and happiness. Of course though, it in turn has become a factor in the way I am feeling.
To cut a long story short... I have always had very low confidence, so asking people to do things with me has always been a big challenge, as have gaining friendships. The thought of a relationship has been terrifying. Mainly because, at around 14 I told myself that no one would ever be attracted to me or love me, so I might as well give up hope it would happen. I finally plucked up the courage to ask a guy I like out for a drink. I thought he might like me in that way, but wasn't sure.
Anyway.. He came back to my place and wanted to have sex which I was comfortable about because I do feel attraction towards him - in fact the first time I have been properly attracted to anyone, however, I could not get an erection, and was therefore unable to perform. In turn, he took that as a rejection and that's another friendship I can put into the bin and another blow to my confidence.
As such, I feel I will never be able to pursue a relationship and will never be able to have anyone in my life. I am pretty much again resigned to the fact I will never have a significant other and will always be alone.
My problems are deep rooted, and there are many of them. I just don't see things ever getting any better and don't know what to do. I was on antidepressants (citalopram) the side effects were horrendous and I have never thought about suicide more than when I was on them. I came off them myself. At first I felt 'normal' (lack of suicidal thoughts), however, my mood is becoming ever darker.
I am getting counselling through my uni, however, this is limited to just 6 sessions, and it's clear that nothing is going to be resolved in that time (2 sessions to go)
I've lost a stone in the past 3 months, and have lost my appetite completely. I can go for days without eating properly, and have to force myself to eat when I do.
Is there any hope, and am I ever going to feel better, because I can't go on like this any longer.