Do you think/feel like you contribute anything to the world by being alive?

Okay, so I have a bit a lot of birthday depression. I get it every year, but this year is worse than others. My mother and I shared a birthday, and since she died my birthday has become bittersweet. Also, I know I’ll have to deal with my dad, which causes me a great amount of stress. But that’s all just the usual yearly depression.

I’m 43 this year and I just have this overwhelming feeling that there is no point to me being in the world. (I have a severe depressive disorder, for which I am medicated.) No one would be worse off if I wasn’t alive. My wife can easily live without me. I am not close to my family and the few friends I have would not be impacted too greatly if I were not alive.

Honestly, truly, I believe my existence is pretty worthless. Had I never been born, the world would not have been impacted. In addition, life is more of a burden for me than anything else. I spend most of my time just existing, but for what purpose? The only thing that I care about is stopping cruelty to animals, but really one more vegan giving small amounts of money to charities will not make a significant impact on anything. The older I get the more I feel useless to the world.

So…what makes you feel like your life is valuable, that it makes an impact, for the better, on the world? How can I feel useful or necessary? Do you have any advice about how I can feel like my life has any meaning?

General Question