I recognise some of the symptoms you describe; feeling guilty and feeling shame for my shortcomings. When asked what I would like to do, like you I didn't want

I recognise some of the symptoms you describe; feeling guilty and feeling shame for my shortcomings. When asked what I would like to do, like you I didn't want to do anything. I used to be depressed. Here is my experience. My depression ended about 6 months ago and lasted for about 4 years. Before then I've been depressed on and off most of my life, sometimes as severely as this time, other times just as nearly constant anxiety and a general resignation to the feeling that my character is depressive. After some time and a big change in my life, I tried to get help. At the start I was helped by seeing a psychologist (who practiced CBT) and by taking medication. Later I couldn't have therapy any more but remained on medication. I slowly recovered, and I think it was because I was lucky to get on the right track. That track was to be honest about all, and not try to hide any, aspects about myself, to everybody. Also those aspects that may not be perceived as positive in the norms of society. This turned out to be quite a relief. I had decided that I'd do that no matter how much social pressure I would feel from thinking I'd be perceived as different or unaccepted. This had been a fear all my life, and still is. Situations come up quite frequently when I do this fearing total rejection, but I still do it. There's fear but no anxiety. I've come to realise that honesty is much more valuable, and perhaps the most valuable thing of all. Not only to me, but to others too. Recently I got a tremendous boost and confirmation when I heard about some of the reasoning behind the development of something called Non-violent Communication, in which it is also touched upon depression. I can't say that NC would help others or even myself at the outset, but it made a lot of sense to me.