Need to regain interest in life

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For a few years now, I have had very little interest in much of anything. I go to work, I eat, I sleep. Sometimes I bike. But I do very little photography any more. I am still trying to make small films but I find it hard to keep my attention on the work. I've even lost interest in essentially passive things like watching movies.

I think much of the reason for this is as I've grown more isolated, I have no one to share experiences with. I don't have an audience for my creative work. There doesn't seem to be a reason to do anything or any goal that is worth pursuing. As I grow more isolated, I become more anxious in meeting new people. I recently started taking an animation class and even there, I felt very uncomfortable talking with the teacher or other students.

Maybe it is partly my age; I'm almost 45.

Does anyone have any suggestions for reigniting passion for one's work and life?

Thanks,

Lars

I wish I could help but I feel the same way about my photography. As soon as it no longer was practical I had no interest in pursuing it. Meaning that if people didn't want me to take photos for them (I'm a concert photographer) I just lost the passion to do it.

This is exactly what I'm going through now. I'm 35. I started taking photos three years ago, it became my obsession - I've been looking for an artistic outlet since I was a child, but could never bring it into focus. But it also turned into frustration when I discovered that my work was too weird/dark/irrelevant to most people. I started struggling to maintain interest, and for all the thrill "creativity" brings me, I crash very badly from it too - it goes in cycles. I find it difficult to make work for me : if other people aren't using it, what's the point, right?

I managed to rekindle my interest by forcing myself to create for me, and for my personal friends. My own enjoyment is that I like telling stories, and creating an image is one way to do that. I stopped trying to submit my work to galleries, and withdrew from Flickr, where I used to be very active. I started showing my work privately instead - just to a few friends, that's enough now. Important for me is to continue hunting for new material to inspire me - I enjoy graphic art for the challenge as much as for creating for others. Not sure if this will work for you, but it seems to keep me running - for now anyway.

You're not alone, as this thread proves:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt115671.html
I can't think of anything much to add to what I posted there. Maybe you could try to track down the cause of the problem....try to catch the thoughts that come into your mind when you reject an activity that occurs to you.

Sometimes I wonder whether a lot of the problem is that we have things too easy......maybe I become inactive because there's no real pressure on me to do anything much, because it's so easy for me to satisfy my basic needs - I stay on my butt because I can do so without coming to any harm, apart from fretting that I don't seem to be very active these days. But what am I to do about it? Deliberately throw myself into danger? I think not.

But there are so many possible reasons for lack of motivation that it's hard to know which ones to consider. In my case I've found it helpful to have a very specific goal. Also the task has to be not too hard but not too easy either. And once I've made a start on a project, I'm usually fine.

Thank you all for your responses. There is a lot of wisdom here.

As terrifying as it may be, I think throwing myself into an activity that I am afraid of, might be the best option. I think I too often play it safe and then I get bored. It might be scary but I like the quote "Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger"

Lars

That sounds like a good plan Lars. I tried to come up with some suggestions and drew a complete blank. I'm kind of in the same position myself. Best of luck.

I don't know why it is. But late spring/early summer is usually the worst part of the year for myself and my family. Right now I am sunk in a morasse of grey for numerous reasons. Personal/financial issues come to a head during this season. And I end up wandering around in a functional depression. I'd love to burrow under a pillow all day but then I'd be sicker for letting things around here go. I did that today and as I look around here my heart sinks further still.

I actually wonder if there's an influence of sort. Maybe the transitioning causes psychic feedback. Hah. If I had to take a guess I'd say it has something to do with the influx of tax return and the arguments over it vanishing without much to show for it. But that's another story.

I hope things turn around for you. They usually do for us when summer finally shows in full.

Aren'r bouts of depression pretty common with Aspies anyhow?

Perhaps it would help you to set up a website or blog to give you an outlet for your creative output. Even a small readership can make it feel worthwhile to try to produce something, because at least some people will see it, and they might even leave some feedback in the comments. It helps if you decide to post something new at least once a week (for instance) so you always have something to look forward to, and whenever you come across something or some idea that seems interesting, you have a place to share it.

I recently gave up my blog, and I kind of miss having that little bit of structure, and I'm thinking of starting another one.

you guys could try posting pics on flickr. a great website, here is my page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/celwhoiscel/

i have to add more to it though. i am not a profesional photographer tho, it is just for fun. You can explore the site and look at other peoples photos.