I feel sad all the time.

A poor diet can be a symptom of and a contributor to feeling depressed. You already have the right idea about getting out there and engaging in some healthy activities - working out, playing your guitar. Doing anything that brings you any interest at all is a great first step. The important thing is to start doing something - doing something just OK is better than not doing anything at all because it won't be perfect. And you don't need to wait to be out of your depression to connect with your friends and loved ones. Get out there and seek a connection just like you did her on MFP. Going to see a doctor to see if your depression is related to anything medical or physical is a good thing to do too. Or go talk to someone. I think everyone could benefit from therapy.

Make small achievable goals for the day. Something you can look back on and see that you did and feel proud of. If your kitchen table is a mess - make it a goal for the day to clean it off. Even if it's the only thing you do all day. You'll have accomplished something. If you're not motivated to do a full workout just go for a walk around the block. Overtime you can take these small achievable goals and build on them. Accomplishing something you set out to do at the beginning of your day is a great boost for your emotional health. And get out in the sun - there's nothing like nature's natural anti-depressant.

Best of luck to you and feel free to add me if you need some support.

It sounds to me like a trip to the doctor is in order. Your problems with school and now your depression could be organic (meaning you have a disorder like ADD or clinical depression).

I don't blame you for being depressed - human beings do not do well in isolation, which is what has happened to you. It's honestly difficult to figure out which came first - the isolation or the depression, but they definitely feed on each other. The more depressed you feel the more you isolate and then the more depressed you get. Break out of the cycle by reaching out for some help.

Talk to a counsellor. its the best first place to start. they don't push anything on you but can give you good opinions. At the end of say three sessions with a counsellor you like ask for an honest opinion on whether or not you should see a doctor. At that point have a discussion about it.
If you decide to see a doctor be totally honest with your answers and yourself.

I have been dealing with chronic depression for around 10 years. I did counselling for the first 6 and eventually I was convinced to see a doctor and get on medication. SInce being on medication my life has changed drastically.

Mental illness takes a lot out of you and it is nearly impossible to do anything else while struggling without support. I went from a straight A student to failing a class during one of my bad episodes.

Please seek out help and support! THere is so much help available you just have to ask for it!
DOn't focus on weight loss or gain untill you get the mental health portion stabilized.
Your body will thank you later!

BEst of luck!!!! Keep posting in the forum if it helps.

I would speak to a psychiatrist. Sounds like you need to seek out some professional help and there is no shame in doing so. They can probably help you without prescribing medication.

Although, it might be that you really need medication and you should be open to that.

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human beings do not do well in isolation,

Funny you say this.

I always wonder why, in movies, isolation is torture and difficult. I would pretty much be in heaven. LOL. I don't know. I work hard to isolate myself as much as I can. I seek it and crave it constantly. And, when I get it, I love it. I have actually not spoken for a couple of weeks before. I could easily live in a little log cabin in the woods by myself without waning about needing someone around.

But, funny, when I clicked on this link to see the OP's message, an ad for Morrisey poped up. LOL

You say that Jerry, but every photo of you has a beautiful significant other in it. Somehow I doubt that you are truly a loner. :laugh:

I enjoy my isolation from time to time too, and have to work hard to get it as my husband and daughter are very gregarious and want my attention at all times. But any time in the past, all I have really needed was a day or two of total quiet and peace and then I was ready to get back to work and socialize a bit.

I'm certainly no expert, and I would suggest consulting an actual professional about this, but a few thoughts anyway...

I'd wager that it's depression that's causing you to eat so little rather than the other way around.

There are valid and effective treatments for depression that do not involve meds at all. For example, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the somewhat-related Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. There are good books about both of these techniques that you can get on Amazon and probably even at your library, if you want to get a sense of them.

Keep playing that guitar! I know music has helped me immensely at times in my life. You could also use this to ease you into social situations (jams, etc.) if you wanted. If there's a ukulele group in your area, you could even try that--I've found that uke people tend to be super-welcoming, which isn't always the case with other instruments (you can use the same chord shapes on a uke as you do on guitar, although you wind up with a different chord)

Good luck!