Is it a sign of depression to feel the NEED to give away all your valuables & be!


Question: That's what many people told me, & I also read that. I always feel the NEED to give my things to people. Or do you think it could be 1 of my OCD symptoms-compulsively giving away my stuff? I do suffer depresson, anxiety, & Tourette's, as well as OCD.

Most of the time, the reason why I try to give away my music CD's, DVD's, pencils & pens, money, paper, food, clothes, shoes...is because when I buy something, people always yell @ me & make me feel bad about what I bought. Then, I feel like I didn't deserve to have such items, & feel like I should give them away.

Every CD I have, people get upset because the music is "old" & nobody listens to it anymore. So it makes me feel like I don't have the right to listen to my music. I feel false guilt & then end up giving it away.

My neighbors listen to oldies. Yesterday they were playing PRETTY WOMAN-on repeat-ALL day.


Answers: That's what many people told me, & I also read that. I always feel the NEED to give my things to people. Or do you think it could be 1 of my OCD symptoms-compulsively giving away my stuff? I do suffer depresson, anxiety, & Tourette's, as well as OCD.

Most of the time, the reason why I try to give away my music CD's, DVD's, pencils & pens, money, paper, food, clothes, shoes...is because when I buy something, people always yell @ me & make me feel bad about what I bought. Then, I feel like I didn't deserve to have such items, & feel like I should give them away.

Every CD I have, people get upset because the music is "old" & nobody listens to it anymore. So it makes me feel like I don't have the right to listen to my music. I feel false guilt & then end up giving it away.

My neighbors listen to oldies. Yesterday they were playing PRETTY WOMAN-on repeat-ALL day.

All of what you have said about depression and other illnesses you have found giving away stuff is a symptom that is part of the diagnosis.
Sadly when one gets diagnosed with issues, all of their life and actions seem to be able to be interpereted as a symptom. Also, some people feel that they have the right to dominate and control you : steer you the "right way" ie. their way, and pay little attention to the fact that you are a person with the individual, hopes, dreams, interests, ambitions, choice, and style that is only yours. You are supposed to like and do your own thing - it is what makes you special and unique.
I hope that when you are buying things that it is your money, and you are being responsible and paying any bills such as food, rent, lights etc. before you go shopping. ie. not leaving someone else to pay or be responsible for your necessities. Because failing to do so might cause people affected to be angry with you, and cause the guilt you feel about your purchases.
If that is not the case, nobody but nobody has a choice in what you buy with your spending money and you should relish in the purchases you make and enjoy them completely.
Choices in music are very personal and each persons taste depends on what makes you feel good, what you connect to, music is part of a person's soul... only you get to decide what goes in your soul.. what you want to have there.
Everyone is different on every level of life and interest.. it sounds to me like your friends are narrow minded, controlling, cruel and thoughtless to you in regards to your right to have whatever comforts and pleasing things around you that you wish. You sound like an idividual, and embrace the fact that actually, you know what you like and don't have to be off chasing the next great thing because it is "in" for the day.
People can play bad games with you watching you spinning circles at the drop of a comment. It is not healthy for you and the anxiety must be great. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like something you like, or try to make you feel bad about something or feel inferior or insecure, maybe because they are envious.... basically they are tearing you down and telling you you are wrong, not competent: which isn't true - tell them you like the things you do, and make the choices that you want, case closed, let's talk about something different, and leave it at that. Refuse further comment. Maybe think about branching out abit and finding some more supportive friends who are interested in the things you are. I wish you the best. Also, when you reach to give something away (especially something you still like and want) STOP. It costs money to replace those things. The people who really care about you will be relieved that you are not giving your stuff away, and the ones who are there for the stuff will fade away. Beware of hint droppers: I really like those shoes or.... those shoes are awful... it may be they know that you will give them to them. Simply respond: (Thanks,,, I like them very much) If you have the tape or Cd, put on the song: "These Boots are made for walking" on your stereo, and fill up with the girl power that you are going to take charge of your life........ :)

What is your real question?

it sounds to me that it's other people that are making you feel that way.

Well...you said that you know you already suffer from depression... and that you have already read that what you are asking is a sign of depression...so, why are you asking it again?

Are you being completely honest here, a lot of people with depression begin to give things away for similar reasons to you, but also as a sign they are getting ready to suicide. You seem very articulate, have you tried counselling??

I thought that when people say that giving away your stuff is a sign of depression, they mean that the person might be contemplating suicide and thinking they won't need their belongings if they're dead.

It seems like you understand pretty well why you feel that way, though, even if you don't know how to categorize the impulse.

~yeah, its a sign of depression..but so are many things.
Give to your hearts contentment! What of it? Give all of your things away, what of that? Enjoy what you will.

Tell people that do not agree with what you listen to etc to mind their own business. You have problems and they are going to think that they know better then you. Why would they get upset? It sounds like they are teenagers and you are falling into peer pressure.

no...youre just crazy

First of all not everybody likes the same music thats why there are so many different kinds. like rock pop hiphip garage ska etc. You listen to whatever music you like because you are your own person. If you go out and buy yourself something then that is up to you after all it's your money that you are spending. Depression strikes all kinds of different people from all different backgrounds in all different kinds of ways. So your need to give things away could be related to that i dont know. But to be honest i doubt it, my thought is that people around you are phycologically scaring you and making you feel bad enough to give the things you wanted away. After all you must have wanted them in the first place to buy them. what i mean For example is.. A rather large woman goes to an all you can eat restaurant and other people are sitting at the tables some are enjoying their night out but theres these guys at the table next to hers and they are sniggering to each other and making comments on her size and mocking the fact that shes in an all you can eat restaurant who in turn wont be able to cater for her large appetite and will go out of business.She trys to ignore them but can't help over hearing them and feels really embrassed and hurt because she can't believe that strangers could be so cruel.And what they don't know about this large lady is that she has an illness one that she cannot help, also she works 2 jobs one has a nurse and the other as a carer and shes on her feet all day. And tonight being her night off she thought shed treat herself to a nice fine meal. But those guys made her feel so bad that she does'nt want to eat it anymore in fear that everyone is thinking the same thing only these guys have the guts to say it. she walks out the restaurant and cries on her way home. What do you think she should have done? cos the answer is the same as what you should do!!!





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