I was thinking of buying an Line 6 Spider HD 150 guitar head and start playing regular again. And then it hit me. I don't have anyone to play with. My music no one seems to care about. It all feels hopeless. And I just want to give in and quit. I know I'm bipolar. But I take my drugs. So I don't think its just that. It all feels so helpless. Nothing is happening!

I quit playing live 4 years ago and haven't missed it a bit. Embrace songwriting and recording. It's far more fulfilling IMHO.

Maybe you could seek out open mic nights and meet some new people - who knows what it could lead to. Shaking things up by experimenting with other genres and singing again could freshen things up a bit for you.

Jarsve
My music no one seems to care about. It all feels hopeless.

As with anything in life, it really doesn't matter what other people think. Music is a form of expression, express yourself.

What other people think of me is none of my business.

Think of all the unquestionably successful popular musicians in your lifetime who have succumbed to depression, drugs and hopelessness while their fans were still clamoring for more. Your interior battle is never going to be won by having strangers appreciate your art, let alone by fame or adulation. Music or not, you need to accept yourself. 

Dude... your compositions are great. Don't give up writing/playing/trying. Even if commercial success is eluding you at the moment just the joy of creating should be enough to continue.
 
I get really bummed out because of a lot of the extremely crummy stuff in my life. Music is the thing that helps me ignore all that crap and keep going.
 
I've been working on/with your song for the entire summer and not once have I gotten tired of listening to it or playing around with it. You have a lot of talent in my opinion and I'm not just saying that to be nice.
 
Feel better and you should totally start playing guitar again. To me playing guitar is instant happiness.
 
Cheers.

I think this is one of those Jonathan Livingston Seagull things in as much as there doesn't necessarily have to be some end goal, simply the taking part and excelling ones self is all that matters. I don't have time for live music projects with other people, my work schedule is just too chaotic and unpredictable, but being able to beaver away on whimsical music projects in my spare time has been an absolute godsend. I quite honestly don't care whether or not they amount to anything. It would be nice, but I don't have my heart set on anything. Even if I spend the rest of my life on projects that nobody else hears, I will have still thoroughly enjoyed the whole creative/technical process behind it. The pursuit of any kind of creative art has a positive effect on the mind and benefits other areas of brain function - like problem solving, the skill of patience etc. It's also great for the self esteem. Don't give up. 

Sometimes I feel you just have to bite the bullet and take a good hard look at where your at ….
 
I look at it like playing a guitar or something …some things may come easy and somethings may come hard …
I never thought quitting once-over that ….It's a personal thing maybe and in my life regardless of whether anything I ever play amounts to a hill of beans in anyone else's eyes or ears for that matter ….
 
I stayed with it because I was a lost soul and music was a gift …
Whomever the power in charge is threw me a life-preserver by giving me the desire to play music ….
 
All the other stuff related to music and finding creative outlets that involve getting it on with other musicians can seem overwhelming at times….
it is a pretty much dog eat world out there unless you are lucky enough to find people to work with that understand that being a team player and using music as a form of expression that has a possible attribute of serving a higher purpose …
other than being King of the Hill for a day …
example , playing music allows me to bring a few brief moments of joy and entertainment to peoples lives ….
 
Take this for what it is worth …
I was told once that there are 2 primary forms of musical expressions once you decide to share music with the world …
there is music for enlightenment and there is music for entertainment …..
Both of those paths of musical expression have their own set of forks in the road .
Now of course that is only a broad generalization , because music itself also involves so many other variables including personal preferences and compromises that occur every step of the musicians journey …..
 
What I am about to say may pi$$ some people off and I'm not the least bit sorry to say this …..
 
A big part of the wheels that are moving in the music business right now how absolutely nothing to do with music 
it has to do with commerce and generating money …..
 
When I play a bar they don't care about how good I play they care more about how much booze I sell and is the club crowded and full….
( that has been a while folks almost 3 years ) There is nothing wrong with that imho  once you know the game .
 
I feel it is important to see exactly what I am up against when it comes to the things that are absolutely out of my control  it is bad enough I have to learn to get out of my own way … that is simply just part of personal growth and implementing effective change .
 
The thing that helps me the most when it comes to dealing with the assorted musical  issues I face  are based on a very simple concept that happens to be a historical fact in US history ……
 
When people first discovered Gold here in the US there was an explosion of people that sought their fame and fortunes  by hitching their dreams on becoming rich mining for Gold ….
It is somewhat a given that it is a historical fact that the people that made the most money were the people that outfitted the miners and sold them the gear.( not the miners them selfs …though a small percentage did hit it rich )
This era of prosperity brought about new metropolitan cites and a whole highly intricate society within the whole push regarding the Gold Rush experience in this country ….
 
I use this example as a mental tool to deal with my frustrations at my own personal failure to launch .
 
How is that example any different what happened back then compared to today ? 
 
it really isn't …
 
The Gold Rush of Yesteryear or The Music Business  of today 
 
flip a coin cuzz it ain't really no different ..to me at least 
 
I hitched my dream on panning for musical Gold using a guitars fretboard and every Mofo in the world is looking to outfit me along my musical journey with every possible tool I may need to strike it rich 
BTW, people that know me well , know better than to try to sell me a Jack A$$ because I already am considered one depending on who you ask 
Now , I'm OK supporting the companies and buying the tools I need ( or think I need ) ….a lot of smart people that play used their brains to find a way to generate a livelihood and provide a valuable service …..
Got no beef w that …..
 
The thing is after peeling away all the layers of my own personal artichoke of denial …
I have come to the conclusion that I absolutely don't need anything more than my acoustic guitar , my dog and a good spot outdoors to be perfectly happy doing music playing for the birds chirping away in the tree tops  …
if thats as good as it will ever get for me fine , but i't ain't gonna stop me from trying to connect and take it to a whole different level
 
….you know I still got the dream ….
 
 it's all good , 
 
Kenny
 

Don't give up. Go to some clubs and meet new people. Get involved in some community action. Put yourself in a position to do something for others. You may open up a whole new life. 
 
Sometimes we get too hung up on ourselves. That's when we need to let go of self and get out in the world to help others. 
 
Once you have a different frame of mind, you will probably start writing again with good energy. Take a break and enjoy the life you have.