How do you know?

Question

I was wondering when you know you suffer depression, bcause people tell me I do but im not sure is there any specific signs?

Im 15 and male.

Answer 1

WARNING: this is realllllly long. Be prepared.

Frequent sadness, tearfulness, crying

Teens may show their pervasive sadness by wearing black clothes, writing poetry with morbid themes, or having a preoccupation with music that has nihilistic themes. They may cry for no apparent reason.



Hopelessness

Teens may feel that life is not worth living or worth the effort to even maintain their appearance or hygiene. They may believe that a negative situation will never change and be pessimistic about their future.



Decreased interest in activities; or inability to enjoy previously favorite activities

Teens may become apathetic and drop out of clubs, sports, and other activities they once enjoyed. Not much seems fun anymore to the depressed teen.



Persistent boredom; low energy

Lack of motivation and lowered energy level is reflected by missed classes or not going to school. A drop in grade averages can be equated with loss of concentration and slowed thinking.



Social isolation, poor communication

There is a lack of connection with friends and family. Teens may avoid family gatherings and events. Teens who used to spend a lot of time with friends may now spend most of their time alone and without interests. Teens may not share their feelings with others, believing that they are alone in the world and no one is listening to them or even cares about them.


Low self esteem and guilt

Teens may assume blame for negative events or circumstances. They may feel like a failure and have negative views about their competence and self-worth. They feel as if they are not "good enough."



Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure

Believing that they are unworthy, depressed teens become even more depressed with every supposed rejection or perceived lack of success.

Increased irritability, anger, or hostility

Depressed teens are often irritable, taking out most of their anger on their family. They may attack others by being critical, sarcastic, or abusive. They may feel they must reject their family before their family rejects them.


Difficulty with relationships

Teens may suddenly have no interest in maintaining friendships. They'll stop calling and visiting their friends.



Frequent complaints of physical illnesses, such as headaches and stomachaches

Teens may complain about lightheadedness or dizziness, being nauseated, and back pain. Other common complaints include headaches, stomachaches, vomiting, and menstrual problems.



Frequent absences from school or poor performance in school

Children and teens who cause trouble at home or at school may actually be depressed but not know it. Because the child may not always seem sad, parents and teachers may not realize that the behavior problem is a sign of depression.


Poor concentration

Teens may have trouble concentrating on schoolwork, following a conversation, or even watching television.

A major change in eating and/or sleeping patterns

Sleep disturbance may show up as all-night television watching, difficulty in getting up for school, or sleeping during the day. Loss of appetite may become anorexia or bulimia. Eating too much may result in weight gain and obesity.



Talk of or efforts to run away from home

Running away is usually a cry for help. This may be the first time the parents realize that their child has a problem and needs help.


Thoughts or expressions of suicide or self-destructive behavior

Teens who are depressed may say they want to be dead or may talk about suicide. Depressed children and teens are at increased risk for committing suicide. If a child or teen says, "I want to kill myself," or "I'm going to commit suicide," always take the statement seriously and seek evaluation from a child and adolescent psychiatrist or other mental health professional. People often feel uncomfortable talking about death. However, asking whether he or she is depressed or thinking about suicide can be helpful. Rather than "putting thoughts in the child's head," such a question will provide assurance that somebody cares and will give the young person the chance to talk about problems.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Depressed teens may abuse alcohol or other drugs as a way to feel better.

Self-Injury

Teens who have difficulty talking about their feelings may show their emotional tension, physical discomfort, pain and low self-esteem with self-injurious behaviors, such as cutting.

Answer 2

The only real way to find out if you are suffering from depression is to talk to a counselor, psychiatrist, or psychologist. These people have experience and will be able to tell you if you are actually suffering from depression, which usually is due to an inbalance in signals sent through the brain, instead of just being upset about the way things are. They actually can help you with both. Talk to a counselor or psychologist first. They will try to help you through any problems that you may have. If you are looking for specific signs and people on here tell you what they are, you will apply them to yourself and think you are depressed. Trust me, I have been 15 and unhappy. So many people feel like that at that age. If you never have moments of happiness and everything has no meaning, you should really talk to someone.

Most teenagers go through a stage of emulating whatever it is that they think being depressed is. But there is a huge difference between being depressed about normal things, and being clinically depressed. If you are really worried, you will talk to someone. If you aren't really worried, you already know that you don't need to talk to someone.

Answer 3

If you dont feel depressed than you are not. Maybe you are just moody or going through that stage where you dont wanna talk to a lot of people. Are you tired a lot? Do you usually think of negative things happening or do you tend to look forward to more positive things happening? You should know how you feel and if you really feel something is wrong talk to someone who can help you. I think you can call the Boys and Girls club hotline 24/7.

Answer 4

You have times when you don't feel like doing anything... don't feel like hanging out with friends, or watching tv............ you think a LOT about all the things that are wrong in your life... situations that most people would just consider " part of life", these situations make you really bummed out... sleeping a LOT...or unable to sleep much... eating a LOT...or eating a lot less...... having NO energy.......... hard to concentrate.... thinking about suicide....not having fun doing things you normally do... hard to do good in school....feeling very hopeless............ and if most of these fit you, do not worry, because there are many treatments and also, it is NOT your fault, because clinical depression is a chemical imbalance and it can happen to anyone.

Answer 5

Force a smile being 15 is a trying time. Your still developing the way that you deal with certain situations that come before you in life. Asking for advice is a good step in the right direction. Some things are never easy to deal with, but time heals most wounds. good luck

Answer 6

simply depression is just a diagnosis that someone who gets payed alot of money an hour decides. if you are feeling depressed, there are things that you can do on your own to make it better

find some new hobbies, perhaps new friends, and new stimuli. don't listen to country music, and don't drink too much alcohol

remember that "taxes will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you will fantasize that when you were young, prices were resonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders..."

excerpt from the sunscreen song by BAZ Lutherman, he really is great

Answer 7

i don't understand - and that i settle for that i visit not at all understand, and that i ought to be incorrect - yet i will inform you why i don't think. A theory in God is often paired with a theory in some form of life after loss of life, and in my ideas this devalues the life we live. To me, the theory that this life is all we've and that while we die we are long gone continually makes life look each and all the greater particular. I additionally can not understand the belief of an all effectual and all loving God. i'm nicely attentive to fairly some arguments which justify the suffering interior the international, yet none of them have controlled to persuade me that fairly plenty suffering, in this form of extensive scale and so futile, ought to be allowed by ability of a God who became all loving. If there's a God, then i don't think of it could probable be all loving. Or no rely if that's, It won't be in a position to be all effectual. If a God exists and facilitates the international to circulate on the way it does, then that is not a God I unquestionably have any activity in worshipping. i may be greater vulnerable to have faith interior the classic Greek or Roman Gods, the Gods who have been selfish and immoral and intensely human, yet i don't. I get excitement from the secret of life. i don't pick to respond to each and all the huge Questions with God, or with technological expertise, or with something in any respect. I get excitement from not understanding why we are right here, the place the international got here from etc. i like to think of of life, the universe and each little thing as one extensive, ludicrous, impossible accident, and that makes me happy. I merchandise slightly to the belief of living a solid life so as which you will delight God and make it into Heaven. I plenty want the belief of goodness for the sake of goodness, understanding that there will be no reward ever yet that that doesn't rely via fact that's the act of goodness in itself that concerns. I understand the reality that my interpretations of the considered God and my ideals are actually not shared by ability of all, yet i desire I unquestionably have helped you to understand one individual's motives for atheism.

Answer 8

If your depressed Join the club! I too am depressed at a young age of 15 too, I just hide it from family and friends no need to drag them in.

Answer 9

They don't know lol.

Only you would know. Listen to yourself. Maybe your facial expression looks depressed or how you hold yourself ie body language etc.

Anyway you would feel down. It is common place to feel down every now and again. I feel really sad maybe once a month, sometimes more but I spend moretime understanding the cause than trying to cure it.

Understand the cause if its there and youw ill not have an effect.

Answer 10

Reference the DSM -IV