Troubled by Constant Self-Doubt

Reader’s Question

It really seems like my life has been thrown in a loop. About six months ago my father was diagnosed with cancer. It really affected me a lot more than I had ever anticipated. I got a job at the start of all this and usually I find myself to be a pretty diligent worker. For some reason I couldn’t hold that job together and within three months of employment I lost it. I just recently have been doing well for myself and I’ve accomplished various goals and I have a very loving girlfriend. I also got an even better job with a different company. But for some reason I can’t be happy for myself. I always tend to over analyze every situation I find myself to be in. I finally quit a long run of marijuana addiction (which made things worse) but I still feel depressed. My parents think I’m fine but I don’t feel fine. I’m just trying to figure out a way to work diligently at my job and be able to hold it without dwelling on so many insecurities that I have and just not have that constant self doubt.

Our Consulting Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

The cancer diagnosis in your father may have pushed you into a moderate depression. The result was the loss of the first job described due to depressive symptoms. Many folks live in a moderate depression without recognizing the condition as depression. Symptoms would include fatigue, loss of interest, low motivation, poor self-esteem, poor concentration, self-doubt, racing thoughts (over-analyzing), and sleep problems (brain won’t shut up!). Information on depression is available on this website and on my website at www.drjoecarver.com. A typical finding in depression is the opinion from those around you that you not only seem fine, but you don’t have any reasons to be depressed (good girlfriend, good job, etc.). Despite your external successes, depression makes us internally sad and insecure.

If you feel depression fits the clinical picture, I’d consult a mental health professional or your family physician. Treatment for depression is readily available these days.

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