Too Late

Recently I thought of why so many people may feel depressed, the most common age people have their first depressive episode is between 19 and 21 (CDC 21% of people in a survey conducted in 2019 in the US) and adolescents have it rough as well (2020 study found 12% of adolescents reported feeling depressed). Worldwide there's a 4.21% report of depression in all ages. 

I often feel that 19 to 21 is the age where we suddenly change, we no longer are in high school or college anymore and we become adults. This sudden shift can cause many opportunities... and sadly many mistakes. When we hit that age we're no longer going through mood swings or developing like our formative years (12-18) and now we should be mature and finally get a job and seek work to make a living. There are many reasons for depression such as loneliness, isolation, abuse, trauma deep struggles people could have gone through. When we approach depression from people, from many walks of life, I often feel that a key problem is how we would look back on our formative years and perhaps feel that time was wasted and anything we do will be inconsequential and this carries over to older folks.

We feel like because we're young we should achieve things as soon as possible before "being young" wears out, we rush so hard but don't think about everything else. If someone asked you what your life would be like if you were 65  or how you want the world to look after 65 years some people wouldn't know what to answer. Retirement would come to mind but what would that mean? Is that something you can only do when you retire? I want the world to be a better place. did anything I do ever contribute to that?  And now the problem becomes did I waste my life? 

I've wondered this for a while and that thought comes in many forms. I didn't do things that I should've done, I made decisions that were so easy to see were wrong but I made them anyway, and I missed out on things that I should've experienced. I never felt truly happy, did I?

If humans only lived for 30 years then yes it would be something that might hold more weight, but life expectancy is rising and soon the average age will one day be 80 in places like Australia or Germany. People think that doing good while their young is the only thing that matters, but once you are no longer young then what? Why give up when life is halfway there, why stop running if the start line isn't far behind you?  Is it too late to turn your life around? 

No... there's never a reason to think it's too late to change for the better, sometimes it may feel useless but a small step is still something that we all must take to lead to big changes if you need to pause in life don't be afraid to do so or seek guidance. Life is long and experience is more valuable than time, so please don't think it's too late. If you have a goal in the distance you'll never reach it if you don't start. Likewise, if you start you'll eventually reach the end. Just don't give up because you will reach that better you, that better place, that better world, eventually. 

I can't tell if this should go on general support, but if someone is willing to read this, then at least I hope instead of seeking support I have possibly given support to someone else going through similar thoughts. If you've put up with my blathering I want to say; You've worked hard to stay alive, very hard, and I'm glad you are here reading this. 

-Sunnylake