about

My name is Sydney. I'm a 39 year old woman who has been giving sound, unbiased and caring advice to hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds for the past 14 years. When giving advice or answering questions, I give the very best advice I have and all my answers are given with the utmost care and concern. There may be times when I tell you things that you don't want to hear but know that my advice is given in what I believe is your best interest, since my purpose here is to help you achieve the very best outcome for any situation or concern you present to me. My specialties are relationship issues (all kinds), mental health issues, sexual issues, spirituality/religious issues, and self-esteem issues. Please feel free to drop me a letter. I look forward to helping you.

advice

Ok i don't know what is wrong with me. But over the past 2 years i find myself cutting down on -or limiting- the types and amount of books and movies i read and watch. I am even starting to lock my self home because i can't stand the fact that i can't do what people are doing (people i don't know like renowned anthropologist or astronauts or so on...) I mean now i only read my text books or watch documentaries or "informative" shows that i could analyzed or extract meaning or a moral out of it without having to endure through the backdrop love story or adventure.... to elaborate...

my cousin begged me to go see twilight with her this past weekend. so being nice i went. I never read the book (for the reasons i stated) and have no prior attachments or knowledge of the story beforehand. after watching it i felt ok... it was an ok movie... a couple hours later... boom i knewwww i shouldn't have gone!!! i can't stop dreaming of it and i can't help feel bad (to the extent of serious depression sessions... as in can't get out of bed can't study can't shower let alone go out depressed!) i start wishing i had what was depicted like powers or such strong love...usually the imaginary or the idealized (nothing that relates to real life in anyway!) the problem it's not just twilight! it's anything i read or see!! even my safety net movies like documentaries and biology or philosophy or whatever books! granted i get a milder sort of emotional overthrow but it's still there... the other day i was watching something about famine and poverty and so on in africa and i got into this trance the whole day wishing i could be there or explore their world or be born an African to experience that... i don't think it is necessarily humanitarian empathy... i guess it stems from selfish roots.... like envy... (i am probably so green, that there are no green pigments for the rest of the world to reflect!!!!)

i know this sounds ridiculous and i sound like i am pmsing but i wouldn't be writing this if it weren't having such a terrible effect on my life!!

i've spoken to my mum and family doctor and they are convinced it is nothing (the doctor just laughed and said it's in my head and that he would "give [me] the birth control pills without all that") and laugh every time i try to explain... i feel really embarrassed but i don't know if it's just me or if there is something wrong with me!!! i feel i am missing out on so many things! including all the best sellers and box office hits :(

please help!

It sounds as if you have become increasingly disappointed and disenchanted with the life you have and the lack of consistent positive emotional stimulation, which has now affected you to the point where you're depressed. I completely understand how you feel. I too have had "fantasies" or wished I had super powers or a super exciting life or a really strong "storybook" love affair. The reason I had these "dreams" is because I too was disappointed and completely bored with my life as I had it. There's nothing ridiculous about how you feel. You are just in a serious rut and you have to pull yourself out of it and turn your life in a different, more interesting direction. One way you can begin to pull yourself out of it and redirect your life is by getting envolved in groups and activities with positive influences and fun through interaction with others. That's what I did to bring myself out of it. When you get yourself involved in groups with activities that keep you busy mentally and physically, you start to refocus your negative energy into postive energy, your emotional state should improve and the depression you're feeling will subside. Depression grows if you keep feeding it so start starving it by redirecting your thoughts and energy towards positive quests. You will have to open your mind to it and may have to force yourself to do things initially but as time goes on and you start to experience enjoyment from the group, its members, activities and/or interactions, the depression you're experiencing will become a thing of the past. I hope I've been helpful to you. Let me know how things progress with you.

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