As the world races towards the chastisement I can't help but feel a great sense of sadness and helplessness. I am at a total loss as to what I should be doing with my life to be happier. My job is not fulfilling. People aren't wanting to listen to me.

As the state of the world keeps getting worse, I am very tired of dealing with most  people. Many people are either so deceived or so attached to their smart phones, I can't even have a normal common conversation with them.  Other people I try to avoid because they want to argue theology with me because they hate Catholic beliefs so much. I have close family members bothered that I will not not be a part of the ecuмenical Vatican 2 even though I can win every debate with them.

At work I endure an increase in the number of conversations of people talking about their lust, going to strip clubs, getting drunk and swearing.

I am noticing many people  mad at Atheists for not believing in God and yet these same people won't step foot in the Traditional Catholic Church Jesus founded so as to work out their salvation in hopes of their soul being saved.

I think I need to find or accept the little peace left in this world.

Are you also finding it much more difficult to find peace in this world as most world situations continue to deteriorate?

Sorry for being so negative but at the moment this is how I feel , especially after feeling a little sick the last four days. I am very claustrophobic person and as of late, life is feeling very confining to me.

Remember: Almost nothing ever turns out the way folks think it will.

I need to remember God has this under control.

Because you're not up to par physically, you've become depressed.  Realize it will pass.  Cut yourself some slack.  You're right about the state of the world, but take heart.  All the sooner the Church enters Her glory on earth!  If you perish in the Chastisement, so what?  If you're in a state of grace, even if in Purgatory, your worldly worries are over.  You have only Heaven in your future!
If the depression doesn't pass, ask Our Lady for help.  Pray to the Holy Ghost.  Then go and do something kind for another.  Look for something good and be thankful.  Remember that as bleak as things appear, ALL things work for good for those under Our Lady's Mantle.  God IS in control.  Persevere!
Will say a prayer for you.
 

I wonder how long someone will come along in this thread and say "Oh, it's always been like this," or "Oh, we've been in times like these before. Nothing is new."

Or something like that.  




This is an age of cynicism.  

Even though many people will say the problems we face during these times are nothing new, it is the first time many of us have had to deal with the negative state of this world to this magnitude.  

I might have to have less hope to be happy in this world and more longing for the world to come.

Part of the problem is, I am not praying on as a consistent level since working twelve hour shifts. I also miss mass every other Sunday.

Pray as you can. Not as you cannot.

Strengthening your prayer does not necessarily mean lengthening it, especially in your circuмstances.

As St. John of the Cross directs:

"Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you." ( Mt 6:33 )

This world is fallen and its prince is Lucifer. Worry about the salvation of your soul. It must be your main concern. From there, all holiness and goodness come. Focus on making your soul and body holy because at the end, you will stand alone in Judgment Day.

Do not become discouraged or despair because of the world. Despair is a sin against the Holy Ghost. We must conquer the world. We cannot serve two masters. Either you are from the world, or are from God. You cannot be in both. Mortal sin and Grace cannot cohabit in a soul. It is WARFARE!

Let the Holy Ghost dwell in your soul. Gain other souls for God by being a good example and praying for the poor lost souls. Prayer and action.

Most people who are susceptible to depression are very sensitive to circulating cytokines and other inflammatory chemicals in the blood stream. Whenever you are fighting a viral infection (and other infections) you have high levels of circulating cytokines that cross the blood brain barrier and can tip those susceptible into depression. There are probably other processes and chemicals involved but this is a basic outline. Stress also causes the release of stress hormones including cortisol and adrenaline. These also contribute to higher levels of inflammation in the bloodstream and therefore increase likelihood of clinical depression.

It helps to keep this I mind whenever you start noticing symptoms of depression. Stop and take a mental account of your physical and mental health. Sometimes just knowing you're coming down with a cold, and that the virus might be what is triggering the symptoms of depression, is enough to stop the downward spiral into a blue funk.

The best "treatment" though is a continuous conscious practice of Abandonment to Divine Providence and making active conscious acts of faith and trust in God and His Providence and His Wisdom. Know and believe that as long as you are fulfilling the duties of your state in life with love for God and a conscious offering up of fulfilling those duties as part of your daily offering, God will provide for your every need and Mother Mary will show you the way out of every difficulty.

Doing your duty in love and trusting in God's Providence in all things, even in the midst of catastrophe, can bring immense peace and joy. I say this as someone who has suffered through much of what you describe here in the past.