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Summary
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An 18-year-old college student has stopped attending classes and exercising after losing motivation. Friends and games provide temporary relief, but he feels directionless and worries he is wasting his life.
The response considers depression, anxiety, academic pressure, and other recent stressors as possible contributors to the change.
It encourages looking at what has increased the burden, seeking support through the school's counseling service, and resuming physical activity and engagement with classes.
The answer treats the loss of motivation as a reason to seek help rather than a fixed prediction about the student's future.
Question
Reader · Identity withheldI’m an 18 year old male, living in California. Over the past few weeks my motivation to do anything has gone way down. I haven’t been to my college classes in almost 2 & a half weeks, because I simply am not motivated to go. I just don’t want to do anything.
\nThe only thing that gets me out of this funk is being with my friends and playing video games because I don’t have to worry about anything.
\nI stopped working out, put on a few pounds, and I have a job. That seems to be the only thing I’m really motivated for because I get money for anything I want. But other than that, I don’t want to do anything. I honestly feel like I have no place in this world and I’m destined to just sit on my ass (sorry for the language) and do nothing forever.
\nWhat should I do doc?
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Answer
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.You fit the description of someone who is depressed and anxious. When playing video games and being with your friends you do not have to worry about anything. The fact that you state this make me wonder if you feel pressured and worried about school, homework, quizzes, exams and term papers? These are the factors that cause countless number of college students to feel stressed and overwhelmed.
\nThat fact that this loss of motivation raises the question of why this has happened over the past several weeks. You need to ask yourself if some additional stressors have interfered to increase your burden. Some additional stressors are problems at home, loneliness, breaking up with a girlfriend, and even drinking to excess and using drugs. Any of these alone or in combination, along with school issues, are enough to cause depression.
\nThere are a couple of things you need to do. First, it is important that you get back to the gymn and resume working out. We know for a fact that exercise relieves depression and stress. It will also help you get some of that excess weight off.
\nIn addition, you would help yourself by seeing a therapist so that you can talk about your problems and issues. Your school has a health center that usually has a student counseling service. Speaking to the school counselor or psychologist can be very helpful in sorting out your difficulties. This, along with exercise, are things I am strongly recommending.
\nDoing nothing about this will only cause you to feel worse. Feeling helpless and hopeless is never good. Get yourself going, exercise, go to the counseling center and get help.
\nIn other words, get yourself moving and get yourself back to class.
\nBest of Luck
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