Depression

15yrsandnervous · 10-01-2005, 07:13 PM

Ok a few days ago i found out my sister suffers from depression... anyway, it made me think about it, and im sure that i do aswel but im not really sure. Over the years i have gone through phases when i have just hated my life and been very depressed and sometimes for no apparent reason i will just randomly drop into a state of depression for anywhere between 12 hours and a week. My mum asked me about it aswel saying i thought i might she asked me if i wanted to see someone about it.. i just sorta said i wasnt sure and we didnt talk about it again. I guess what im asking is how do i know if I technically suffer from depression or if im just an average teenager dealing with life ? I dont really have any measure to decide weather im just not dealing with stuff so well as everyone else...

anonymous_presence · 10-01-2005, 07:54 PM

The best way to find out if you may have depression is to read up about it and find out exactly what it is. Definitions vary across the web, but generally depression is a possibility when a state of depression lasts for over 2 weeks with few to no breaks in the mood. Normally if depression lasts over 2 months with very few changes in mood (e.g. a couply of days of normal mood) then you should start seeing a professional about it.

A few indicators of depression include changes in appetite and consequent changes in weight (either loss or gain), little animation/reaction to things that normally make you happy, sadness but without any real cause, feeling fatigued and tired all the time, changes in sleep cycles, etc.

Here's a good link to read more about it:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Joe19999 · 10-01-2005, 08:46 PM

Also remember is that a depression runs in families.

winkie;) · 10-01-2005, 08:58 PM

I was always told in all my psych classes...that you have that disorder if it affects your daily living. When you get in these depression spats......does it affect your life?? If so go see someone, it will not hurt you. If anything it may be easier and you may understand yourself better.

Süsser Tod · 10-01-2005, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkie;)

I was always told in all my psych classes...that you have that disorder if it affects your daily living. When you get in these depression spats......does it affect your life?? If so go see someone, it will not hurt you. If anything it may be easier and you may understand yourself better.

Yep, it does affect your daily life, but your mileage may vary.

However, you are the only one that can help you, and the first step is to recognize/acknowledge the disease. Go to a therapyst if you want, but its guaranteed to be a waste of time, and under no circumstance accept to take any pills.

Antidepresives are in fact, adictive, no matter what the lab sponsored studies might say. First days you'll feel better, then you'll get back to normal (your body getting used to them, and, adjusting). Then you'll have to increase the dose, and so on.

And, the worse part, it is a phisical addiciton, not psichological, so the widthrawal is something I wouldn't wish to my worse enemy.

winkie;) · 10-02-2005, 07:15 AM

I am not sure why Süsser Tod has such a negative vibe about psychologists and psychiatrists. I hate to tell you there are many children that need medication. I have been in the school system for many years and some children without meds cannot participate in daily living activities. Yes not everyone needs them but there are some who cannot live without.

15yrsandnervous · 10-02-2005, 07:00 PM

um thanks guys, yea i think il try and talk to a psychologists or psychiatrists. btw whats the difference ? I dont think im severe enough to accept medication.. i would be very reluctant even if i thought i was.

anonymous_presence · 10-02-2005, 07:40 PM

It's good that you are going to see someone about what you are feeling. Even in the event that you don't have depression, they'll talk to you about dealing with your bouts of sadness and coping strategies.

The main difference between psychologists and psychiatrists is their approach: the latter uses medicines and the like, while the former employs verbal techniques. Also, psychiatrists tend to deal with abnormal psychology, such as mental disorders that require medication.

I think you should talk to a counselor first who will refer you to someone else if it's necessary, or talk to your parents and they'll know what to do.

10-01-2005, 07:13 PM	#1
15yrsandnervous Offline Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Age: 20 Posts: 105	Depression Ok a few days ago i found out my sister suffers from depression... anyway, it made me think about it, and im sure that i do aswel but im not really sure. Over the years i have gone through phases when i have just hated my life and been very depressed and sometimes for no apparent reason i will just randomly drop into a state of depression for anywhere between 12 hours and a week. My mum asked me about it aswel saying i thought i might she asked me if i wanted to see someone about it.. i just sorta said i wasnt sure and we didnt talk about it again. I guess what im asking is how do i know if I technically suffer from depression or if im just an average teenager dealing with life ? I dont really have any measure to decide weather im just not dealing with stuff so well as everyone else...

10-01-2005, 07:54 PM	#2
anonymous_presence Offline Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 132	The best way to find out if you may have depression is to read up about it and find out exactly what it is. Definitions vary across the web, but generally depression is a possibility when a state of depression lasts for over 2 weeks with few to no breaks in the mood. Normally if depression lasts over 2 months with very few changes in mood (e.g. a couply of days of normal mood) then you should start seeing a professional about it. A few indicators of depression include changes in appetite and consequent changes in weight (either loss or gain), little animation/reaction to things that normally make you happy, sadness but without any real cause, feeling fatigued and tired all the time, changes in sleep cycles, etc. Here's a good link to read more about it: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

10-01-2005, 08:46 PM	#3
Joe19999 Offline Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 27 Posts: 56	Also remember is that a depression runs in families.

10-01-2005, 08:58 PM	#4
winkie;) Offline Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Long Island, New York Gender: Female Age: 34 Posts: 244	I was always told in all my psych classes...that you have that disorder if it affects your daily living. When you get in these depression spats......does it affect your life?? If so go see someone, it will not hurt you. If anything it may be easier and you may understand yourself better.

10-02-2005, 07:15 AM	#6
winkie;) Offline Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Long Island, New York Gender: Female Age: 34 Posts: 244	I am not sure why Süsser Tod has such a negative vibe about psychologists and psychiatrists. I hate to tell you there are many children that need medication. I have been in the school system for many years and some children without meds cannot participate in daily living activities. Yes not everyone needs them but there are some who cannot live without.

10-02-2005, 07:00 PM	#7
15yrsandnervous Offline Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Age: 20 Posts: 105	um thanks guys, yea i think il try and talk to a psychologists or psychiatrists. btw whats the difference ? I dont think im severe enough to accept medication.. i would be very reluctant even if i thought i was.

10-02-2005, 07:40 PM	#8
anonymous_presence Offline Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 132	It's good that you are going to see someone about what you are feeling. Even in the event that you don't have depression, they'll talk to you about dealing with your bouts of sadness and coping strategies. The main difference between psychologists and psychiatrists is their approach: the latter uses medicines and the like, while the former employs verbal techniques. Also, psychiatrists tend to deal with abnormal psychology, such as mental disorders that require medication. I think you should talk to a counselor first who will refer you to someone else if it's necessary, or talk to your parents and they'll know what to do.