Ask Julie: Depressed, Anxious, and Socially Awkward

Q: I don't remember a time in my life where I've been totally happy but for the past approximately 2 years i have been extremely depressed as a result of my social anxiety and loneliness. I have always found social situations 'awkward', in fact the last time I remember frequently leaving my house for social reasons was when I was about 13. I then became more and more of a recluse from there on, i went out with my friends less and less outside of school, then upon leaving school i stopped doing things with my friends more and more until the point where i have not left my house for social reasons for about 2/3 years. I no longer have any friends and although my family is nice and supportive they cannot provide me with what I need. I have not spoken to anyone in person about my problems, I simply can't. My parents will just tell me to go to a doctor. Doctors will just prescribe me with a drug that I don't want. I don't feel a psychiatrist can help me. I've become extremely lonely and depressed. My self esteem is extremely low and although I'm not a bad looking person I simply cannot accept my imperfections, no matter how hard I've tried. I feel I am in so deep that I cannot make a recovery. I cannot throw myself into social activities to make friends because of my social anxiety. I no longer find anything enjoyable and nothing at all interests me, this leaves me with the motivation to try nothing. I feel like I'm in a corner with no way out, every possible path I need to take to fix myself, I cant bring myself to walk down whether its my self esteem, depression or social anxiety stopping me. I hate it and I hate the person I am, I'm so sad it hurts. I feel so lost and lonely I cry randomly, its pathetic. There is no reason why I should feel like this, I've had a very normal life without any trauma, this only makes me feel guilty for the way I am. Guilt I don't deserve to feel when there's so many more out there in far worse situations.I just want to live my life and be happy, but I truly believe I will never get there. Sometimes I feel like giving my life and donating what i have to give someone else a shot at life. Someone who can appreciate life.I have read a lot of advice online about people in similar situations to myself but what are my options when the things I need to do to fix myself, I simply cannot bring myself to do?

A: Thanks so much for writing in and reaching out for help. I have seen many clients in my therapy office who express similar feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, focus on their own imperfections, and have extreme guilt for feeling so sad and lonely because they've had a "pretty normal life." It sounds to me like you are suffering from severe depression and anxiety that are keeping you in a downward spiral, unable to reach out for help. The good news is you have reached out on this forum, so I am very hopeful that you can reach out in other areas.I urge you to talk to your parents and ask them for help. You said you haven't talked to your parents because they will tell you to go to a doctor. If they love and care about you they will tell you to go to a doctor or a therapist because that's the right thing to do when a family member is ill. I suggest that you keep an open mind about medication. While it doesn't need to be the first course of treatment, it can definitely be a helpful tool in treatment. Ask your doctor for a psychotherapist referral as individual psychotherapy can be very effective. Often, a combination of medication and psychotherapy can be effective in treating depression and anxiety.In order to experience some change in your life and find happiness you will need to take some action, even if you don't want to, and even if it's a small one - like talking to your parents about how hopeless you feel. You can do it. It sounds to me like what you're experiencing isn't really "you" but is mental illness clouding your thoughts and feelings. You can have more satisfaction and joy in living than what you're experiencing.Take good care of yourself!Julie Hanks, LCSW