I asked ChatGPT if depression can cause a lack of purpose and meaning in life. ChatGPT replied:
Yes, depression can significantly impact an individual’s sense of purpose and meaning in life. Depression is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, a loss of interest in activities, and a lack of motivation. It can make it challenging to find joy or fulfilment in daily life, making it difficult to maintain a sense of purpose and meaning.
Depression can lead to a loss of perspective and distort one’s perception of the world, including their own worth and significance. It can make it difficult to engage in activities that typically bring a sense of purpose or meaning, leading to a feeling of emptiness or hopelessness.
The lack of energy and motivation that often accompanies depression can make it challenging for individuals to pursue their goals, engage in meaningful activities, or maintain a sense of connection with others. This can further exacerbate the feeling of purposelessness and contribute to a diminished sense of meaning in life.
However, it is important to note that depression is a medical condition, and seeking professional help, such as therapy or medication, can be instrumental in treating it and restoring one’s sense of purpose and meaning. With appropriate support and treatment, individuals can gradually regain their capacity to experience fulfilment and find meaning in their lives.
— ChatGPT
I asked ChatGPT this as a young lady in a Facebook group had expressed her distress at the lack of purpose in her life.
I do know that a long period of depression unresolved by anti-depressants was eventually cured by changing to a medication that treated major depression (& anxiety), and cured both (which was Cymbalta duloxetine, by the way).
However, that doesn’t make me immune from grappling with the idea of finding a better purpose in life.
Taking a break from the computer screen I headed down to the river to relax and recharge.
Then I remembered this quote:
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
and something Vishrant said about the ultimate way to live is to deeply love and care for all of the life around you, knowing how sweet love is, and how wonderful reality is, and then found this quote in my notes:
“The only way to make your present better is by making your future bigger.”
— Dan Sullivan
Source: 4 Quotes That Will Immediately Shift Your Perspective