Why is life so depressing?

[Darkover]

You think about life and the meaning of it, but then you realise all we do is work, work, work, socialise a little bit and maybe travel. We then possibly love, get married, have children, but then ultimately we do all this and then die. It is like we are given life and then it's taken away. It's pretty depressing really. What are your thoughts?

It's all pointless at the end of the day. Humans are a tiny blip in the universe. Even if you're the most famous and influential human ever, eventually humans are going to get wiped out by something. Probably ourselves, but who knows. I don't think the human mind is really big enough to comprehend how insignificant we are. In ten thousand years there might be nothing left of humans as a species but dust. And when you think of how big / old the universe is in comparison.... well. It's mind boggling. We're inherently evolved to feel we have value and are important and we mean something. When you think of the bigger picture it's very easy to get extremely depressed.

 

[UKscotty]

I think depression makes life depressing, not life itself.

When I am not in a depression episode I quite enjoy life. Its cool to get out and explore, to try new things and meet new people. Learning is fun and engaging.

When I'm in depression headspace I just want to sleep and die. I hate existence itself.

 

[sserafim]

Because we're all just slaves to the system

 

[underscore_nine]

war is peace
freedom is slavery
ignorance is strength

 

[iloverachel]

Life is a depressing shithole
A hellish abomination where we are tortured until we die

 

[Forever Sleep]

I suspect a lot of people get by by not thinking about the bigger picture so much. If we can't change the situation so that we become a whole lot more important, I guess people just accept that we are insignificant.

Would you want to be significant? In what way? Would you like every living creature to admire you? For doing what? Would it make you happier?... Even successful people kill themselves. Could everyone be equally successful even? Or- do you need some to achieve and the rest to admire?

I guess a lot of people simply live moment to moment. We have been blessed or perhaps cursed with bodies that can feel pleasure and pain. I suppose a lot of people just try and avoid as much pain as they can and enjoy any pleasure they can get. The problem is when we can't avoid pain and nothing much is pleasurable I suppose.