Question:
How can I be sure if i'm depressed?
I know this seems like a silly question, but how do I know for sure that i'm depressed. I don't want to go ask my pcp for any medication, because i'm unsure. I feel depressed all the time, but i'm just not sure. — Laydie K. (posted on June 18, 2002)
June 17, 2002
call your pcp and let him/her decide. Part of depression is not knowing.
Love to you.
— faybay
June 17, 2002
I think if you are thinking about it serious enough to post a question
about it here, you really need to talk to your doctor about it. There are
several mild medications that he can put you on to see if they help.
Depression is a disease not a weakness. Chin Up! Talk to your doc. It
will be okay!
— Virginia N.
June 17, 2002
I'm sure there are screening quizes for depression on the internet that I
can't get to at the moment, but the bottom line is: is your state of mind
interfering with your life? Have you lost interest in your job, your
friends, activities you like, etc.? Is it all too much bother? I think if
you say you are depressed all the time, then, by gum, you're depressed.
Please get help; the most effective way out is medication and therapy.
Been therem done that. I'll be praying for you, but you have to take a
step toward help, too.
— Karen N.
June 18, 2002
My best definition of depression is permanent PMS! Seriously, you should
talk to your doctor. Depression is difficult to self diagnose.
— Bobbie B.
June 18, 2002
When I get depressed, I often find myself acting normally at work and at
home (but with no pleasure in either); yet you could look at me cross-eyed
and I would cry. In fact, I can cry on demand when I am depressed, I find
myself very emotional (Headline News can set me off)..... I find myself
almost in a daze, just barely functioning on the outside, and on the inside
everything seems like such a chore to get through- I'd much rather be in
bed, so I can turn my brain off and just "not deal" with
responsibilities. I've never had suicidal thoughts, just thoughts of
"Woe is me" and "It figures" and "I must deserve
it?".... All negative towards myself. I have a great support system,
so talking about my feelings is never a problem- just sometimes you get
depressed- and for me, there is no real reason other than a chemical
imbalance. Even though I am in Prozac, I still have these days (just not
as bad). Prozac makes me able to withstand it, but doesn't turn me into a
zombie.
— Karen R.
June 18, 2002
I'm not trying to be flipant. But if you are asking, then you probally are
depressed. But that is only a guess. ;)
— Danmark
June 18, 2002
Hi...first call your PCP and make an appt. with him/her. Then while you're
waiting for your appt. check out http://www.wordworx.co.nz/depression.html
It's an excellent website that lists many signs and symptoms of depression.
It may help you to express what you're feeling when you see your doctor.
I think recognizing that you may need help is a very good thing! Love and
hugs, Joy (first major depression episode at age 25, been treated ever
since)
— [Deactivated Member]
June 18, 2002
I have Clinical Depression - which means I have meds for the rest of my
life. I can tell when I am depressed because I forget things and my
concentration is off. I am moody and usually by this time sleeping a lot.
Best advice is to see your Doc and let them decide. I usually can't make
it through the apt without crying!
Take care of yourself - it will get better!
Jennifer
— Jennifer E.
June 18, 2002
I just ache for you. I have clinical (ongoing) depression with a few
episodes of severe depression - one resulting in hospitalization for a
month. I know the despair and confusion... the way that normal life
becomes so overwhelming... The thing you NEED to know is that it will get
better. It will. One day you will realize you suddenly feel
"normal" again for the first time in a long time and you will
want to hold onto that feeling for all you're worth. Its a struggle, but
its not out of our control (even though it absolutely feels like it.) Now,
me saying this is not going to make you feel better, so what you need to do
is talk to your doctor and get treatment (therapy, meds, whatever is right
for you) so you can see it for yourself. While you're working on it, do
what a friend told me to do and just repeat "it will all be ok"
over and over and over - even when you don't believe it. I even made
myself a sign that said "it will all be ok" on it about 50 times.
It sounds silly, but dangit if it didn't work :-) One day I looked up at
my sign and thought, "OMG! It IS all ok!!" You can do this.
Email me any time. [email protected]
— K. Joyce Smith
June 18, 2002
I have been on depression medication like 2 years. My problem was that I
would get upset about all kinds of silly things. Nothing was wrong, but I
would just cry and cry at night. My doc said it was a chemical imbalance
and not really a situational depression. If you think you are, I would
definately talk to your PCP. Medication isnt necesarily the first thing
they will try.
— emilyfink
June 19, 2002
Hey there, i know how you feel..
I have not had serious depression, never hopitalized, but have wanted to
lay in bed for days and sleep and cry, even cry to stupid commercials. I
got help, therapy weekly and went on several anti-depressants until i found
what is right for me. The hardest part came next. get out of bed, shower,
go out, be busy, follow through with your responsibilities, it will be so
damn hard, your energy level will not be there to help you at all, but do
it, then, relax, start a journal about your feeling, when they occur and
how you deal with them, refer back to your journal and use it as a clutch.
good luck
— Kate D.
June 23, 2002
I want to thank all of you for helping me.. I went to my doctor and she's
going to prescribe me something. I'm hoping it will work. Thanks for
everything.
— Laydie K.
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