Should I visit a shrink? I'm losing hope.

I feel like I've been a failure from the past 4 plus years. I remember the day I lost my self confidence in my studies. I have anxiety, depression, chronic stress and I basically don't feel anything around me, I don't feel alive. Because of my these, I kind of limited myself talking to other people. I feel like a loser and I clearly know its because I think too much negatively, low self-esteem and the one thing for all my ###$ ups in life is Procrastination.

After I graduated in 2014, I haven't really done anything productive at all. I did a 4 month internship and that's it. I was told I'm socially a bit awkward, shy, not confident enough at work. It's not that I feel shy talking to them, I feel stressed most of the time and I feel like it's better to keep myself quiet. I also feel like I don't have anything interesting to talk or won't know how to talk freely with them. Being unproductive, not having a goal, procrastinating even the smallest tasks, drinking alcohol everyday from the past 3 months are the reasons for my current messed up life. I didn't understand what was happening to me. I desperately needed help but I didn't have the courage to share these with anyone. I want to come out of this life and be successful. I have lost a lot in my life because of my untreated depression... I don't even know if I'm depressed anymore. I don't feel sad anymore nor I feel alive. I don't have interest in anything anymore.

To add to this, an astrologer has said many bad things about my life.

I have decided to visit a shrink. I really want to change my life, I want to stop procrastinating, take better care about myself and gain social skills and confidence. I don't know how to start. I have stopped drinking alcohol and stopped smoking.

I'm wondering.. would visiting a shrink and getting therapy help me feel alive again? would I be able to be confident about myself?

Any advice or queries, please do ask.

Do you have a regular family doctor? Are you on any medications? Do you eat a healthy diet daily? If you aren't eating well daily and are drinking then it is possible you have vitamin deficiencies that are causing the symptoms. *mod edit* I have been on anti depressants and been to therapy over the past 40+ years and nothing ever helped until I had vitamin testing at 49. After fixing what I eat and taking the supplements under a doctor's supervision I feel better than I have ever felt. I'm just angry that I had to take so much medication for anxiety and depression and OCD my whole life when it was really due to not having the essential nutrients that you must get everyday.

It is a common misunderstanding that depression = being sad. For me and many others depression has actually been.... not feeling anything. No joy. No sadness. Nothing. Grayness. Sylvia Plath's metaphor of The Glass Jar applied to me, I couldn't feel things or taste them. Everything was behind my glass jar.

Take a look at Allie Brosh's comic "Adventures in depression" (there are two parts). Is this a bit how you feel? Allie explains that a shrivelled piece of corn was her saviour... but so was Wellbutrin. So yes, definitely speak to a professional. (An astrologist is not a mental health professional...)

Big hugs. I hope you feel better soon.

I always encourage people with any psychological struggles to see a professional, sometimes it takes time because you have to see your GP first to have them refer you to a mental health service, but it's 100% worth it in the end if you want to find improvement in your mental well being imo.