How do you stop feeling bad about situations that don't affect you directly and which you are powerless to alter? This involves other peoples' young children. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 1, 2009 - 22 answers

I think I'm broken. How can I see any hope? [more inside]
posted by lndl on Aug 26, 2009 - 28 answers

My life is kinda fucked up and I'm at a complete loss at the steps I need to take in order to not be so fucked up. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 31, 2009 - 37 answers

I have managed to screw up my life repeatedly for years and officially hit bottom recently. How do I escape this descent into nihilism and find meaning and success? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 - 24 answers

I would like to sense God in my life. I go to church regularly, pray, and read the Bible to understand Him better but I still have such deep bouts of depression where I either don't trust or sense his presence. There is a wide gap between what I believe with my heart and what I understand in my head. For example, I understand and believe in the sovereignty in God but when hard times come or extremely difficult emotions (despair) arise, that is the first thing I question. I am not looking for an easy life or a perfect life, just one that is able to trust God more. Any opinions on how to do this? I feel a great tension between trying harder, and just letting go but my letting go resembles more closely giving up than "letting God" if you know what i mean. To summarize, I want a stronger faith. Any ideas? Thanks so much for input.
posted by snap_dragon on May 8, 2008 - 58 answers

I remember seeing about 2 years ago a clip where Anna Deavere Smith was doing a piece on Cornel West. Channeling him saying that he uses the "language of despair" because you must despair before you can hope. Something like that. It was quite moving...and I've thought about it many times in the interim. [more inside]
posted by sully75 on Feb 7, 2008 - 8 answers

I really really dislike doing things. This goes all the way ad absurdum in that I actually would rather freeze into nothingness than deal with college, work, chores, and so on. [more inside]
posted by raisons de coeur on Aug 27, 2007 - 21 answers

Weird problem with wireless modem / router - connection dies after 20 minutes. [more inside]
posted by arrowhead on Jun 18, 2007 - 3 answers

Who said, "Humor is the politeness of despair?" [more inside]
posted by StopMakingSense on Jun 3, 2007 - 3 answers

What is a good book to buy for a bright, elderly man who: a.) has probably read everything, and, b.) is experiencing some level of despair due to his rapidly deteriorating body (he has motor neuron disease)? [more inside]
posted by mjao on Mar 8, 2007 - 31 answers

My rosacea has flared up really badly since December. I've gone from a rosy glow to angry red blotches and honest-to-God pustules for the first time. Yes, I'm going back to my dermatologist, but I need some hope that there is some damn thing out there that will help me. [more inside] [more inside]
posted by rosemere on Feb 5, 2007 - 12 answers

My neck cracking habit is killing me. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 20, 2006 - 24 answers

I'm posting for a friend who was using an old laptop running win95. One day it wouldn't boot, so they took it to "Geek Squad" at compusa or wherever, and they said they couldn't help. [more inside]
posted by craniac on Jun 3, 2005 - 9 answers

The better business bureau seems to be kinda worthless. Is there a generic website where I can go to rate local businesses that isn't awash with tons of ads or filler? I'm thinking something craigs-list-ish, but searchable, with Amazonian filtering (the website, not the large women, although that would be cool too). I think I just got ripped off by a tire store, and I'm tired of going through life a victim. Lazyweb, take me away! [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Apr 19, 2005 - 12 answers