Isolation and Life Purpose

[Keen]

Lately, my PTSD is so bad that I have been stuck at home almost 24/7 for over a month. Sometimes I can get out and drive around. Once or twice I was able to leave the car and go somewhere--i.e. the store to get food. But, my anxiety has been keeping me from getting a job, volunteering, or socializing, so I am just at home all the time even though I hate it. There's really no reason for me to get out of bed every day, I have nothing meaningful to do with my time even though I've tried to find something I could do. I don't have energy to do almost anything. Life feels purposeless. I don't want to die, but I don't know what I'm living for when this is all my life is.
How do you keep enduring and going on when it feels like your life has no purpose?

 

[Abstract]

Sorry to hear you are in that place. I find that isolation doesn't help me in truth even when I have to do it for sanities sake. People and things get bigger and scarier with distance. Its a double edged sword. Is your depression being treated? Think thats important. What tiny thing could you do to start reconnecting a bit? There is an article on this in the article section.

I guess for me when I am hopeless I don't try to find purpose in a sense. I try to just take a small step or two and hope something clicks into place. Usually would have no hope of change if I waited to feel like it could change or believed in me being able to change it. If that makes sense. Hope you find something that helps.

 

[MrMoonlight]

I'm in a similar place @Keen sorry you are feeling like this. I'm setting a daily schedule for myself to keep, challenging myself to go places and do normal things (shopping, movie, mall, coffee) and trying to keep people in my life. Isolation is my goto and I need to fight that instinct because I know where that leads.

Do you have anything similar that you could challenge yourself with?

 

[EveHarrington]

Are you able to go to therapy or see a psychiatrist?

I think there is purpose in healing. Engaging in healing can be your purpose for now.

 

[hithere]

I forced myself to plant flowers. I didn't do it perfectly, but it turned out. It was hard and I had to do the work for no reason and no purpose. When I'm depressed it feels like I don't have a future, and without a future why hope for anything? Every thing is futile. However, I made up my mind to plant flowers, I went to the store and bought some stuff. I kept at the task. I literally by will power made myself do it, and when it started blooming and growing it made me happy. It carried into other areas of my life too. I was just sick of looking like the saddest house on the block. (even though I probably was)

 

[grit]

Hi Keen,

I have had anxiety and can relate to its literally crippling affects. I hope that part that is recognizing it is time gets more help from you to keep going that direction.

 

[Keen]

Thank you so much, everyone, for your insights and ideas. Your support means a lot. I'm going to try all of these things you suggested.