How to Deal with Feelings of Emptiness and Lack of Motivation

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25 June, 2022
QIs it normal to feel empty, and useless most of the time? And to feel that you could do more but it would be worthless, so you get unmotivated and it feels like you are living without a purpose, but then when you pray it’s amazing but afterwards the feeling of amazing goes away and comes back the cycle. I don't know how to deal and I tried to search on google what to do but of course it won’t help. I have positive thoughts and hope and faith but feeling like this is awful, alhamdulillah for everything and djazakaallah.
ANSWER

Timea Aya Csányi
25 June, 2022
Salam Aleikom sister,

Thank you for writing to us. I am so sorry to hear that you experience feelings of emptiness, and feelings that you could do more, but it would be worthless and demotivating.

Sister, everyone experiences these feelings from time to time. Life has its ups and downs, just like the waves of the sea. As Allah says: 

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“So, surely with hardship comes ease” (Quran 94:5)

So, hardship and ease work in a cycle, one after the other. The problem is when these feelings you just described stay for too long and interfere in your everyday life. 

How long have you felt this way? Has any kind of change happened to you? A new school, maybe, or maybe some kind of traumatic event after which you feel you live without a purpose? This might be one of the reasons for your feelings.

Track your thoughts and feelings. When you feel empty and useless, what is going on around you and in your mind? What other thoughts are running around that lead to these conclusions: that you are empty, useless, and unmotivated?

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There are further possible reasons that might cause these feelings. Let me share with you some.

Hyperthyroidism

You should see an endocrinologist and have a blood test that gives a glimpse into how your thyroid functions. Oftentimes, due to stress or other reasons, this very sensitive organ over or under functions, which causes depressive symptoms like the ones you have.

Depression 

These feelings you describe can also sound like depression—feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. Symptoms must last at least two weeks and must represent a change in your previous level of functioning for a diagnosis of depression. 

You can only be diagnosed by a psychologist and get the treatment you need, so please seek one-on-one therapy with a psychologist as soon as possible. The earlier you act, the earlier you can heal.

Marking the World Health Day (April 7)
Exercising Depression Away
At Your Age, It Is Normal 

This is the age when you search for the meaning of life, when you are trying to find your personal identity. 

According to Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, “During adolescence between the ages of approximately 12 and 18, is the identity vs. role confusion conflict. During this stage, adolescents explore their independence and develop a sense of self.” 

Also:

“As they transition from childhood to adulthood, teens may begin to feel confused or insecure about themselves and how they fit into society. As they seek to establish a sense of self, teens may experiment with different roles, activities, and behaviors.”

According to him, “this is important to the process of forming a strong identity and developing a sense of direction in life.” So sister, in a way, what you describe can also be normal.

So please, sister, if these feelings persist for a couple of weeks, I would highly encourage you to seek professional help. The earlier you start working on your own issues—which we all have, so you are not alone—the earlier you will feel relieved. Please, sister, do not hesitate a lot.

In the meantime, keep a close relationship with Allah. He is The Sustainer, the One you can always turn to and the only One who loves you like no one else. Deepen your prayers, connect with Him, complain to Him, and ask Him to open your heart and heal your wounds.

May Allah help you in your journey and make you happy in every circumstance,