Losing interest and passions, why won't they come back?

I was wondering, is there anyone in here that has lost all passion for everything? Over the last six years slowly I've lost interest in nearly everything I used to enjoy. I used to paint, draw and make things and I was quite obsessed with it. I used to play video games and be totally engrossed in the experience until I finished the games. I at one point was obsessed with exercise and got into great physical shape and felt invincible. Although I've never been a big reader, whenever I used to start a book I'd not be able to put it down. Now I have a shelf of books that I bought and was interested in reading them, but only read a chapter or two and put them away. I also have many video games I haven't finished and even some that I barely played at all. I bought some canvases and gesso boards to paint on and I have started paintings only to get furious and rip the canvas apart. I can't think of anything to paint and when I do force myself to paint something I usually paint part of it and decide it looks like shit and I destroy it. Same with drawing, I'll start a drawing and only do the head of a person or the body and I'll lose interest in finishing it and I'll crumble it up and toss it in the garbage.
Art is what I'm talented at and I can't even force myself to do it anymore. When I tell people I don't know what career I want to do in life they are baffled because they think I'm an incredible artistic talent.
There have even been times where I've rented a movie and while renting it I'll be totally interested in watching it and I'll get home and let it sit around until it's due back to the store and sometimes I've even brought them back a week late without even watching them. That's about 8 bucks for something I never even watched. I bought a digital camera for 250 bucks and I never even use it. I have a $1600 computer that's geared towards playing the best pc games out there, but I use it to browse boring websites that I don't enjoy.
I know losing interest is a symptom of depression, but can it seriously last this long? Will I spend the rest of my life doing things I don't enjoy just to pass time? Will I spend the rest of my life in some job I got only because it would support me financially?
Well, I am seeing a psychiatrist this Friday in hopes that he'll give me some medication and CBT so I can get back the passion I had six years ago. Sometimes I blame buying a computer and browsing the net as why I became this way, but other people browse the web all the time, but still seem to have a zest for life.

If this has happened to anyone else feel free to explain your situation.

How old are you? I used to play video games alot but not so much anymore you grow out of them. I don't really have a interest in anything anymore dunno why prob because i done stuff so many times

Yeah, I wonder if I've just grown out of it, but even when I find new things that catch my interest I seem to dislike it very quickly. Like I got into paintball and bought equipment for around 200 bucks and have the chance to play every weekend and I don't. And when I do play I find myself standing in the field not really caring. Once I did a suicidal move to make the game more interesting. I was being shot at and instead of hiding behind trees and dodging gunfire I built up a huge berserker rage and ran straight forward shooting at everyone and bashing my way through thick foliage jumping over streams doing very bold moves. Of course I was shot out, but at least I didn't go out while hiding behind a tree forever. Then there were other times where I got shot at and I totally froze up and stayed in the same spot for twenty minutes motionless. I often didn't care if I was shot and I'd jump out and make dumb noises to attract gun fire then I'd shoot at them then I'd do it again. Lately I've been interested in making a sling weapon and hurling rocks at a target, but this sudden interest has already been lost because I don't even have the passion to start.

I'm hoping at some point I find some sort of hobby to keep me occupied, but I know whatever it may be it will not last very long or I'll give up on the idea before I even start it.

I used to draw and write a lot, nowadays I dont seem to have the motivation, Like you I sit there in front of a blank page and absolutly nothing comes to mind to draw. I used to do photography too, mu fiance bought me a £200 camera and it just sits there. I'm not depressed, I just know know how to motivate myself.

yeah i.m not really motivated to do anything, i can't be bothered, plus i seem to have the attention span of a 2yr old, i can never stick with anything for long

My motivation and attention span have been close to nil lately.

dude I understand what it's like. I bought a digital camera, expensive pc and even a (very old) car. The camera i used about 2 times, the car was fun until it broke down and the PC i just dont find it fun playing games any more, it feels like i should be earning cash in that time instead or something - but i do realise wealth doesn't bring happiness. i have a 28 yo collegue (im 20) who is always playing games n talking about the latest games and gadgets and he has a gf and everything and is happy so I wouldnt say u "outgrow" this stuff lol. i think i need to change my job, it's depressing me (and shake this SP, gah, what a drain)

Hi,
I have the same problem. Things I used to like doing I cannot be bothered
with anymore. Just like a few other posts I cannot get my mind focused
on things anymore.

I was also thinking if this is a sign of depression?

I am the same. I did art in college but i lost all interest and i haven't done any drawing since 1999. I've got a guitar which rarely get's touched because learning new stuff is too much hassle, i used to be a keen cyclist in my teens but i lost all energy, i sit down and watch a film and my mind wanders, i listen to my cd's and i sometimes can't be bothered to listen to entire songs instead i flick through them, i can't be bothered to read because my eyes feel so tired and the content does not sink in, often reading the same line over and over.

I feel numb.

Well, as for me.
Before I could force myself to do things (lets say dishes) but now I do
not even have energy to apply will to do it.
So I wonder, have I just let myself go, have I become super
lazy or is it a more underlying thing like perhaps depression?

I dont know what to say really. I have the same problems. I used to draw and be into any kind of graphic design. Recently I dont even care enough to enhance crappy sites like myspace and facebook pages. Its really easy, but it's like "who cares?". The only thing that really effects me still is music. Wish I had an instrument to practice with. Drums would be epic.

Yes, I've lost interest in all the things I once loved. Whenever I attempt to enjoy those hobbies, I grow tired after a few minutes. I just feel numb. I have to force myself. I'm just going through the motions. I also have a list of books I'm waiting to read, but I find it nearly impossible to stay focused enough to get interested.

I'm hoping those feelings return, I feel like I've lost myself.

I'm the same with music. It still interests me. I'm not sure what I'll do if I lose that...

It is probably because with SA these things become our lives and ultimately life needs other things...therefore we become bored with theses 'hobbies'!

This might make no sense...but I find I get SO bored that even interesting things are boring!!

its probably just a form of depression.

To whom ever here has talked to a professional about this lack
of life lust or what ever we choose to call it.
Is it in fact depression, or something else?
I would really like to know.

If im honest i just really want to do social activities because Im fed up of spending so much time on my own. Therefore everything else seems dull in comparison.

When I watch a dvd i think there are probably groups of people at the movies.
When I cook I think there are people out to dinner
When im on the internet I think there are people out at parties/bars/just hanging out.
When I go to sleep I think some people have relationships.

So i think im just sick of solo stuff in a way. If there were social things to break them up....I'd probably enjoy them again as a treat rather than as my only option!

PunkRotten: You are right about the "maturity" thing. We get old get different
priorities in life. What was once fun is not any more. I guess this is only natural.

Yeah I've pretty lost all interest in drawing and writing, although I really had a passion for it when I was a child. When I was 14 yrs old, I began learning to play guitar, used to practise all the time. My guitar teacher would say I had a "passion for playing the guitar". Which I did until I was 16 then I just lost interest in playing or learning the guitar anymore, gave my guitar lesson. I also lost all interest in art when I was 16 as well, even though I was studying it at school at the time.

Pretty much been a self-taught guitarist since I gave up lessons, but even now I hardly ever play my guitar. That being said, I still have a passion for music, I don't know what I'd if I didn't have that...

I guess my struggle with depression is what caused me to lose interest in the things I was once so passionate about.

PennyLane said:

If im honest i just really want to do social activities because Im fed up of spending so much time on my own. Therefore everything else seems dull in comparison.

When I watch a dvd i think there are probably groups of people at the movies.
When I cook I think there are people out to dinner
When im on the internet I think there are people out at parties/bars/just hanging out.
When I go to sleep I think some people have relationships.

So i think im just sick of solo stuff in a way. If there were social things to break them up....I'd probably enjoy them again as a treat rather than as my only option!

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That's so very non social phobia sounding. But yeah I'm like most other people who replied, I have the attention span of a fly and hate that I'm not able to force myself to do things I should otherwise enjoy, like drawing. Everything seems like such an effort. Apart from all my social phobia issues I've been diagnosed with chronic dysthymia which is a form of depression.

Yup that sounds like depression to me. I've experienced something similar but not as serious. I believe the depression is caused by social isolation. Even though we have SA and it's difficult for us to interact with people face to face, I believe that it's like an essential part of well being and happiness that we can't do without. In your situation I'd start by joining some volunteering organization where social interaction is required. You'd feel better by talking to people; helping the less fortunate; and also their problems will kind of put yours in perspective.

SnowWolf said:

That's so very non social phobia sounding. depression.

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I guess the problem is I want to do these things...but im too nervous to speak to people.