I struggle with depression, so this question really means a lot to me. I feel like it steals my life from me and just makes it a wasteland of pain a lot of the time. I am just curious what other people's answer is.
In my youth I met a psychologist who helped me with advice I practice to this day. I had graduated from college in December and moved to a small southern city for my first job. It was always dark, my college girlfriend broke up. You know the story.
So he said what made me happy in college. Well I hiked in the mountains with my friends. Had u done that since I moved to small town? No. What else do you like he said . He made me keep going until I named 20 things
And then he said. So before we meet next week I want you to do five of these 20. And I did. I learned that we are happy when we do things that make us happy. I still practice this . I walk 5 miles a week four times. I find two new musical acts I like. I garden. I read a book. I try a new wine. I joined agnostic.com. I just got back from Alaska.
Most of it is small and doesnt cost anything. Live what you like.
I guess I'm not a person that suffers with depression some days are better than others and some resemble a bowl of f*** but I feel alive all the time I interact with people daily I also take my quiet time in the park generally on the way home from work. I like to wander around in my own little world for a bit. (I put up mirrors to make it look bigger) my dog's Dudley and Fenwick give me great satisfaction and if I am down I think of Eric Idle hanging on the cross singing always look at the bright side of life.
3 years ago, I would have perhaps replied 70%. That has all been taken away and now I would answer maybe 2-3%, but that is still probably too high. Realistically, fractions of a percent.
Wow I can totally relate.
For me feeling truly alive, throughout my life, was me dealing with my anxiety/depression. As you stated that leaves very little room for pretty much anything else, including shifting the focus from dealing with the anxiety to something more fulfilling.
Very recently, I decided that I am going to move my 'feeling truly alive' in another direction and focus on making sure that I have things in my life that will provide me with hope, happiness, peace ie: something to look forward to. That something could be an event, a song, a person, a smelling of the roses moment......I don't know how it will work out but just deciding to go in that direction has already given me hope. I think that is a sign of a good start.