Lost interest in an activity once loved, martial arts?
I'm only 15, but I've been training in martial arts for 11 years now, & tested for blackbelt after 10. Around 2 years ago I slowly started to lose interest in the activity. The place used to be my second home. It was close-knit, and I loved learning the curriculum. But when this new rank system was enacted, the environment changed. Juniors such as myself were given less responsibility, to be inferior to the adults. I understand the maturity issue, but I guess I can’t help feeling angry with the fact that I have trained as long as them, so in my opinion I deserve the same respect. Also, the chief instructors, whom motivated me most stepped out of teaching and passed the power down to the wrong type of people, people who weren’t as passionate about the study and some who became power corrupted. Being there is not the same experience anymore. It has lost its substance to me, maybe because I’m one of the oldies. Most of the people I trained with since the beginning quit by now too. I’m currently the only active, junior girl black belt. I feel lonely, and unwelcome. I don’t think they’d mind if I quit. Should I move onto something else, or try to get myself back on track in that community.
What to do about a loss of interest in everything?
Loss of interest in activities you used to like or enjoy is one of the DSM-IV listed symptoms of depression. I see you sliding down into what I call the pit (darkness, despair, suicidal thoughts). I know because I've been there. I've had bipolar depression my whole life. I am also a professional counselor and have seen depression from that side, too. Reach out for help now while you are still willing to do it. Obviously, you care enough to post this question, so go with that feeling. Tell your psychiatrist that the depression is not getting better and talk to him/her about changing your meds. Proper use of the right kind of medication can really help stabilize mood. In my personal opinion, most psychiatrists take their best guess and hope they are right. They never let on that this is the case, and we go on using meds/treatment that doesn't work or makes us worse. In the meantime, we suffer for it. One of the hardest things for me to do was insist on more/different treatment when I was severely depressed. I definitely feel for you. I am much better now, and I am stabilized on proper meds and therapy. You can get here, too. Good luck to you, and email if you ever want to talk.
When you are depressed, why do you lose interest in activities that once brought you joy?
IMO, depression is akin to a cloud that descends onto your very soul and then converts into the florescent seeping tar of a radioactive waste site in a cartoon and continues to fill every hidden little crevice of you where some joy, some self respect might have shielded itself.It physically decapitates you into a version of yourself that can only see wrong and even when you know you're depressed and all could possibly not be this bad, there is nothing that can jolt you out of the nightmare that continually plays on. It's a warfare of your own psyche against its most vulnerable opponent - you.There are small graces sometimes - in my case it included managing to eat dinner and not feel like I have immediately expanded into a blob that is grotesquely in everyone's way. It could be talking to a friend and not breaking down. It can sometimes be as simple as managing to take a bath. It would often happen where even something truly good or joyful would initiate a bender because you don't see yourself as deserving even that sliver of joy and goodness.There is little joy and absolutely no comfort when you're depressed. But only you can slowly talk yourself out of it and I think I was lucky that out of force of habit, I kept engaging with people and they loved me back into being okay. So now everyday, I tell myself to not listen to all that is poisonous and toxic. I tell myself to not think and wonder of all that I can be but concentrate on the moment and getting through it. And pray - and believe, most of all in yourself.
Am I losing interest in video games?
It could be a lot of things. 1) You are growing older and that can be causing you to be less challenged by the games you play and also may cause your priorities to shift. You may find that games that used to challenge you to beat them now seem simple. Also you may find that growing up has given you new possiblities like later curfews and access to new activities you might have been too young for. 2) Games today tend to be shorter than the late 90's counterparts, for example the average RPG (role playing game -- think Final Fantasy) used to boast 150+ hours of playtime, however game companies now tend to sacrifice memory once used for gameplay in favour of long CGI sequences and better overall graphics. This is of course is not true for all games but for a great many. 3) As you grow up socialising plays an important part of your psychological growth, activities such as sports tend to give you an outlet to meet and interact with your peers and thus may seem more appealing to you than sitting at home alone playing games. You could also be going through a burnout phase from playing a lot of games. Take some time out of playing, do the things that make you happy and after a while if you miss games or find one you really want to play try it out :) game rental isn't expensive so it's not like you're investing a lot. Remember that gaming is supposed to be a passtime, so if it's not making you happy dont try to force yourself to play just for gaming's sake.
Losing interest in horses/riding?
Mariah, I agree with Kara ( the poster above me) that you are showing signs of serious clinical depression, and you need to be medically evaluated as soon as possible so that you can get some help and treatment. One of the biggest red flags for depression is a loss of interest in activities that formerly gave pleasure, especially if that loss of intrest lasts longer than two weeks. You're also experiencing physical symptoms of depression too, such as sleeping too much, not taking any intrest in life, and so forth. Something else you need to realize is that depression and anxiety disorders are closely related to one another, and they frequently occur together. Have you talked to your therapist about any of the feelings you've had? Is he or she aware that you've suddenly lost intrest in riding and in being around your horse? If not, you need to muster your courage and speak up. Therapists are wonderful, dedicated professionals, Mariah, but they are NOT mind readers. If you don't speak up and let your therapist know that you are having symptoms, he or she will not be able to help you with them. Likewise, you need to talk to your folks and to your DOCTOR about what's going on, and ask for help. Until and unless you do this, things are not going to get better. Untreated clinical depression is extremely SERIOUS, Mariah. It puts you at risk for a whole range of health problems. I urge you to get help as quickly as you can, because the sooner you get into treatment, the faster you'll recover. Depression and anxiety disorders ARE treatable, and they are NOT A SIGN of a character flaw or of weakness on your part. Good luck, Mariah... Let us know how you get along.
I have lost interest in hanging out with my friends. What's wrong with me?
You're the type of person who needs something fresh around your life. It could possibly be the environment you're in and it can get boring when the day seems to pass by in the same town. Try going out 30 minutes away where you originally live at, or if you have a different group of friends, start hanging out with them. Since you need excitiment in your life, always keep it stabilize that every time you go out, it's something new or a little change up.
Which activities make you lose track of time?
Really great music. I just get lost seeing things, places, feeling motions, emotions, and enjoy being in the moment, or as close as I can get. Latency is a bitch.A good chat. When I get time with family and friends, maybe some food, good drinks, it can just go on and on, talking about the world, speaking our minds, just enjoying that moment again.Code. When I reach flow, time just screams by, sometimes to the point where I drop out hungry or something. I find it a little hard to get there, but once I do, it's magic!Games can slow or bend time on occasion. This is spotty now where it used to not be.Basic time outside slows time down. If I can mix in some animals? Golden.After reading some of the other answers, I must add Google Earth. I can burn hours on that thing.