What should I do? I need some opinions.?

Question

I have had feelings of worthlessness/laziness for a few years now as well as a very low self-esteem. I just have no confidence and I don't like myself enough to try and do anything. I never feel like doing anything like homework, hanging out with friends or talking to my family even though I want to do these things. Instead I just sit in my room alone or sleep. I thought I might be depressed but what if I am just a lazy person? What if that's just me? I know these are signs of depression but I don't want to be labeled depressed. I have never talked to a doctor because I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that I'm so boring and worthless for no reason. I have a good family life and I'm not sick, what more could I ask for? I feel so stupid because I can't seem to change my attitude on my own. Should I go see a doctor even though I'll feel embarrassed? I don't want my family to see me go to a psychiatrist either because it might make them sad/worried and I don't want that.

I just wanted to tell you all thank you for your kind words and advice. It really means alot to me. You all did help me and I am going to ask my mom today to call my doctor.

Answer 1

Please make an appointment with a doctor. You need to do it for you. You deserve to be happy.

Answer 2

You sound depressed and something that also goes with depression is anxiety. You are anxious you will look silly and are anxious about your family.

Your doctor will not laugh at you and will understand, there is no need to be embarrased. I'm sure he/she would have seen people a LOT worse than you. Feeling like you are boring and worthless is a sign of depression. And sometimes its not something you can change on your own. Depression is something you need a little help with. Wether it just be talking to someone or undergoing treatment.

Your doctor may recommend you see a counseller - your school might have one that you can see without your family knowing. But I'm sure your family would support you. yes they may worry but thats what families do! Its better and easier to have their support.

If he feels it necessary he may prescribe some anti-depressants but I don't think you need them yet.

Stop feeling guilty about being despressed, MANY people get it. I think you know in your heart that you are not just lazy. Its ok to be lazy by the way! Its ok to enjoy your own company and not want to socialise all the time. Everybody is different. You just have to find a balance that works for you.

This website has a quiz on if you think you have depression and what to do about it.http://www.beyondblue.org.au/ybblue/ You can also download fact sheets and read other peoples stories.

Depression is nothing to be embarrased about. If you don't do something about it you could get more depressed and end up worse. Do something now while you can.

Answer 3

Why would going to a psychiatrist be any different then going to a Dr. People forget that a psychiatrist is a doctor. I have been on anti-depressants for about 6 years now. I got off them once for about 3 months, thinking I don't like the side affects and I will be fine. What a mistake, I will never do that again. There are all kinds of medication out there. If you were diabetic would you sit around a do nothing because of what people might say - Can you have that? I didn't know what you could eat. Don't worry about what people might think, go to the Dr and get it fixed. You will feel a lot better once you know what is wrong.

And don't just get them from you regular Dr. Would you go to your regular Dr for say a kidney problem or cancer? Your regular Dr maybe great, but mental disorders (and I hate that word) may not be his specialty.

Answer 4

Sam, I think you should go see your doctor. I know you say you don't want to be labeled as depressed, but when the doc say that's what it is, it'll be like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. After all, how can start to make yourself better if there's nothing wrong with you? I say this because for the past 10 years I've been exactly the same. I cut myself, stopped eating etc, and got into drugs etc, anything to make me feel better. But now that I know what's wrong with me, I'm on the road to recovery. Have you got someone to talk to? Even if you can share these thoughts with someone, I'm sure you won't feel so alone or isolated. There is no shame in feeling like this, and if you see your doctor, he/she won't make you feel bad about it. They're there to help you, remember? You'll be ok.

Answer 5

Hiya, well firstly, I am sure that your family arent exactly having an easy time if you are as bad as you say you are, there could be all sorts of things going thru their minds at the moment. So, for the sake your family, you should talk to them about it first of all.

Why should you be embarassed at having depression?? People who suffer from depression feel things more than the average man on the street, they aren't embarassed to cry at something sad etc.

I have suffered from depression for a very long time and I was actually glad that I was diagnosed because I thought I was going mad!!

So, imho, you need to get some help before it turns into years and years of being alone in your room and feeling that awful depth of loneliness and not being understood or not getting a hug when you need it most or not having some one to hold your hand and help you thru the crappy times. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of!!!

Big hugs from some one with depression

Answer 6

I know you're embarassed, but seeing a doctor might really help. If you're worried about what your doctor might think of you, remember they are trained not to be judgemental and chances are they've encountered something a lot worse than what you present them with.

There are also many clinics, just do a search in the phone book for mental health clinics and I'm sure you'll find something. A lot of people suffer from depression, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Most people get over it, as well. They might put you one some medication or get you some counselling- either way, you'll be feeling better with time and their help.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Think about this. You said it has been going on for a long time and you haven't been able to snap yourself out of it. How would your family feel in 5 years time if it was still going on and you hadn't told them and you still didn't get help? Mental illness like depression is an illness like any other. You would tell them if you were having chest pains or leg cramps all of this time I would hope?

The younger you are when you deal with depression the better your chance of long term recovery. I do hope you get help but nobody can make that decision but you.

Answer 8

I am starting to think that there's no reason to be embarrased about going to the doc or seeing a phych because everyone needs someone to really beable to confide in once in a while.

If you are being so open to the world about this I would think thats good because it shows you're not happy about the way you are feeling, if you try to work out these feelings on your own it could very well take you much longer to feel better if ever.

So If you are a smart girl, which I already think you are, you should talk to the doc who could refer you to a physc.

I'm considering this myself, because life is down right tough sometimes & its starting to bug me that I waited so long to consider the shrink. Maybe ppl should start considering annual physc appt's.

Good Luck & I hope you get Happy again Soon!!

Answer 9

Listen, you need to talk to a professional.... This has gone on much too long! Make an appointment with your family physician and then start getting yourself together again...

When I told my family, my Mom said, "Oh everyone gets depressed, you'll snap out of it. There's nothing wrong with you. If you have a problem you don't need to spend money on a doctor, come to me!" What a joke!! My family continued to deny I had anything wrong. Come to find out depression runs in my Dad's family. I have 2 aunts and an uncle who committed suicide!!!!!

You cannot do it alone. You may need meds. Get going!!

Answer 10

Yes you are depressed and your also intelligent enough to know ...now all you need to do is tell someone you trust ...and don't be embarressed ..if you had a broken arm cause you were swinging out of a chandeler ,,now that is embarressing ...you would go get it fixed...well this is the same ..it wont get better without professional help...it is very stressful to continue as normal that is why you feel drained and tired ...so if you want your old self back ,,go get professional help ...your worth it

Answer 11

I've feel't the way you feel for most of my life,what I'm I talkn about I feel't that way up until last year.Be for my friend NaNa lived next door to me I would do the things your doing. After she was I would go to her ever time I was able to but I still didn't feel like doing my homework.She gave me so much confidence but it still wasn't enough.But this summer she went back to were she used to live(Boston)to visit her mom (the day be for she left I was so pissed the no reason)but then she deiced to make the visit permanent.And now I can feel myself going back to the way I was.I don't what mite be wrong with you but I think what you have I mite have it to.