Dissatisfied With Life
My problem is that I never feel satisfied with my life. I look at my sisters and friends and see how happy they are in their relationships and careers. My boyfriend never understands my needs and doesn’t make me feel important or happy. Same with my job, but there’s nothing else I can do, especially in this economy. I tell myself to think positive and not feel upset when I’m disappointed, but it doesn’t work. Since I’ve been taking Prozac, I’m not depressed, just unfulfilled. Will I ever feel satisfied?
Just because you are taking an antidepressant doesn’t mean you aren’t still depressed. Medication may help you to function better by alleviating some uncomfortable symptoms, but the underlying issue is still there simmering below the surface, preventing you from feeling content. Tackling depression is not about masking the symptoms because they will only reemerge in another form. A positive outlook is great when you truly feel it, but telling yourself not to feel something is like saying, “I’m not going to notice that elephant in the room.” Ignoring it won’t make it go away. In fact, you have to expend a lot of mental energy to deny its existence.
With depression, it is important to understand the root of the problem so that you can deal with it directly. The disappointment you feel with your boyfriend and job are not the actual problem; they are symptoms that something is bothering you on a deeper level. Remember, focusing on the symptoms overlooks the real issue and leaves you repeating unsuccessful patterns with familiar disappointing results. When one feels empty inside, it is expectable that the same emptiness will be experienced in other areas of life. Looking to others in an effort to fill the emptiness is pointless as any sense of satisfaction is temporary. Security and self assurance are not acquired externally, they must be felt internally for lasting satisfaction. Identifying and processing the issues that affect your self esteem with a skilled therapist would provide relief and allow you to move toward achieving happiness and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.