Brandon, I am very sorry about your father.
Life can be mighty difficult at times, and even knock the very breath out of you. Make sure you place sim racing in its proper context, for you. If it is something that is a positive (not because of the results but because of the activity), then draw from it. If frustration adds negative feelings to your life's circumstances, then distance yourself a bit until things are better.
Whatever the case, keep in mind that there are a bunch of loonies here that love to get together for a race-- and very often we have a good laugh doing it. And laughter is only good.

Very sorry to hear of your bad luck Brandon, especially your Father. I agree with Francesco.

I promise you though, luck will change. I had a really bad season all last season so I know what you are feeling. So far my luck has been OK in S7 while Fisher has had some poor luck (about time!).

The hardest thing to do in this situation is to keep positive. Negativity breeds negativity. Think positive and focus on those positives and things will get better. You said that you had the speed to contend for a podium. That is a positive, hold on to it. Take the "errors" (whether they are yours or others) into account and learn from them for the next races. You now know more about Todd's driving style, use that to a positive advantage at China; Either keep a gap or offset yourself to the left/right to avoid it.

Hang in there Brandon and it will all turn around.

What Tim and Francesco said. Keep your chin up.

Keep Sim racing in perspective. It is only a hobby. It should be fun and competive, but still fun. Sounds like you have had some real life issues to deal with. They are more important to you than sim racing. Maybe take break from Sim racing and take care of your real life issues first. Then come back to sim racing. What good is a hobby if it is not fun!

Brandon,
I know how hard it is to loose your Father. I was 26 when my dad passed away. I am 53 now. I was bitter for years. Took everything out on other people and life in general. You must ask yourself, what would my dad want me to do. He would only want the best for you, and try to live by that. I had some very bad moments in sim racing recently, not with other people, but with myself and my lack of talent to keep a good pace. Was always a back marker. I put out a blog titled "Very Frustrated", and found out just how much people care. These are people I've never even met before! With all of the replys I got, I realized that most of my problems were mental. I blamed the equipment (wheel), my computer and lack of knowledge of sim racing. My spirits were soon rasied after some replys, and found that if I kept a positive outlook on things, they got better. Don't let negatives in your life run your life. Keep a positive mind-set, and things will come around. I'm still a back-marker, but I have fun anyway. Just trying to do better a little at a time. Kimi had a ton of bad luck for years, but he finaly got the title when nodody gave him a chance with 2 races left. You never know what's around the corner. Just keep your head up, stay positive, and keep trying. That's what your dad would want. I know that's what my dad would have wanted from me.

Take the advice of the men who have responded to date. They've all been there. Best wishes Brandon.

Guys i really appreciate the comments as they have brought a lot of help that i think i needed to really see. Every one of you said something that i really stopped and thought "well that makes a lot of sense now that i think about it!" It is crazy because i am usually the one that gives advice, helps people, etc. My father has been the main focus of this craziness of me as of late. I never really liked to talk about nor did i talk about it with anyone when i left home. It seems only now that i realize the pain that goes along with that territory.

I came home from christmas break after doing 22 semester hours of school and needed a break as my brain was almost dead. I had also just received my EMT-B license and was home for a couple of days. I was telling my dad about R2P actually and we planned to get him set up with everything. (he was a local race car driver back in the day). The next day he was not able to get out of bed and my first ever patient ended up being my own father. He had been suffering from a brain tumor that was very aggressive and had overridden his speech area. I should have seen it being that everytime i would come home i would have to finish his sentences, correct him on a couple of objects he assigned the wrong word to.. etc. To make a long story short we spent christmas together in a hospital and he succeeded in surgery but died suddenly 3 days later of a heart attack. Talk about a rollercoaster! Since then my main concern has been my mother and others in the family and i have really ignored myself.

I just finished burying my father when i left home and returned to school and "life". Even though i am coming up on my 23rd birthday and am very independent i never realized how much i leaned on my father when i needed advice here or there especially in tough times (and they are definitely here!). I have realized a significant attitude change in me that has to stop or it can really destroy who i am and who my father knew me as. I guess what i really wanted to say is, you can still find advice and help from friends around you and people you do not even know. I really appreciate you guys taking the time to go out there and talk to me about this.. especially the personal emails and what not. I think it will really help me get my foot on the ground with things. As tim said... negativity breeds negativity so i guess its time to be positive.