[Anonymous]

I suffer from pretty acute depression, I've had suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, have self harmed, been very anxious, yet on the surface I have no idea why.
I go to a top 5 university, have offers from two redbrick universities for MA programmes, have been a member of a really good sports club, been a section editor at the university's newspaper, have a career path and go travelling lots.
Yet I feel so, so empty.
Since exams have ended I've pretty much just sat in my room alone. The only time I see people is when I meet up with guys for casual sex, it's absolutely soul crushing and leaves me feeling horrible afterwards, but I just feel almost addicted to it. I've slept with around 15 guys and girls since I started at university. It makes me feel sick. I'm also confused about my sexuality (I'm a girl)
I just have the most despairing thoughts, that I'll always feel this empty, which seems likely as I've felt this way since I was 14, I'm now 21. Despite supposedly knowing lots of people and having friends, I feel like I've got no one in my life who really cares. I know my phone will never go off unless it's something sexual.
I've spoken to my personal tutor, and the university's mental health service, who both said something was wrong, but that they didn't think medication would help.
Has anyone ever been in this situation, or can offer advice?

[Kabloomybuzz]

Go and see your GP, it sounds like its biochemical depression, in which case medication probably would help, but getting some counselling would probably help a lot as well.

Depression is an illness, it doesn't care about the situation you are in. You can have everything you could ever want in the world and still be depressed... it would probably help if you were to go out and socialise a bit more, or just get out, even if its just going for short walks rather than sitting alone in your room.

My advice would be to seek medical help from a doctor, as the services the university could provide would be limited... and they are not really in a position to assess whether medication would be helpful or not (I'm assuming the mental health service is more counsellors and not doctors.)

[acecoffee]

even tho your tutor and mental health service might have some experience with mental health issue .but they are in no position and can not determine if someone need medical help or not .

being successful could actually become one of the stressor due to the constant high pressure .espically if you are a perfectionist . but there's many cause of depression , situation or surrounding might not be the only factor affecting it .

emptiness and loneliness is one of the classic symptom of depression and it is worth seeking professional help .even if it is not severe depression or you think you dont need antidepressent or medical help , it might still be good to have some consulling or thearpy to relieve the current stress.

[rmhumphries]

(Original post by Anonymous)
I suffer from pretty acute depression, I've had suicidal thoughts, panic attacks, have self harmed, been very anxious, yet on the surface I have no idea why.
I go to a top 5 university, have offers from two redbrick universities for MA programmes, have been a member of a really good sports club, been a section editor at the university's newspaper, have a career path and go travelling lots.
Yet I feel so, so empty.
Since exams have ended I've pretty much just sat in my room alone. The only time I see people is when I meet up with guys for casual sex, it's absolutely soul crushing and leaves me feeling horrible afterwards, but I just feel almost addicted to it. I've slept with around 15 guys and girls since I started at university. It makes me feel sick. I'm also confused about my sexuality (I'm a girl)
I just have the most despairing thoughts, that I'll always feel this empty, which seems likely as I've felt this way since I was 14, I'm now 21. Despite supposedly knowing lots of people and having friends, I feel like I've got no one in my life who really cares. I know my phone will never go off unless it's something sexual.
I've spoken to my personal tutor, and the university's mental health service, who both said something was wrong, but that they didn't think medication would help.
Has anyone ever been in this situation, or can offer advice?

In my opinion, you should deal with the little parts:

- What do you want? While good situation is good as such (sorry for bad wording), then being in a good situation won't necessarily make us happy. What is it that you want?
- Sleeping with people can be a good thing - but only if you want it, which I don't think you do at the moment; you want to feel wanted maybe, or something else, but you don't want to sleep with them just to sleep with them, which is why you feel **** the next day?
-I am guessing you are bi-sexual if you enjoy sex with both guys and girls - but you don't need to label yourself, if you fix my point above - then sleep with people, regardless of gender, that you like and see how you feel. But try not to label yourself when you are down.


Medication might help, if only to help you get your feet on the ground and get you more sorted, but I think some high-intensity therapy may be more useful/alongside medication. Are you seeing a GP?

[~ Purple Rose ~]

You need to see a doctor. University support systems are good, but they aren't qualified to diagnose you or prescribe medication, or indeed make the decision about whether medication would be beneficial for you.
Depression can affect anyone, whatever their circumstances, being able to list the good things and why you should be happy is likely to make you feel guilty for not being, but depression is a difficult thing, and unfortunately is not that easy to solve.

[kristol90]

Sounds like narcissism, not depression. Read up on it.

[katyness]

Maybe you're just someone who wants a relationship yet you can't help but to sleep around to fill the hole.