Lazy, AntiSocial, or Depressed? Is Depression Since Childhood possible?

Question

bckgrnd: I’ve seen many Pdocs/therapists and been diagnosed respectively w: Cyclothymia w/ panic disorder; severe depression w/ OCD; and Bipolar w/ OCD tendencies

So, u know the questionnaires given during the 1st visit? Well, I’ve always had a hard time answering the questions involving loss of energy, loss of interest, ect, bcause I have always had few/too many interests; have a difficult time making friends, or keeping them once I made them; turn down others invitations to events bcause I don’t have energy to do them- even as a kid I hated spending time after school doing things bcause I much rather be at home or didn’t want to be away from home so long.

Once a therapist suggested I’d been depressed since childhood, but I quickly dismissed her. But recently I’ve been thinking she was right. So I guess my ? is: do u think I’m just lazy by nature, anti-social by nature, or was that therapist on to something and do u think it’s possible I’ve had depression since childhood?

Answer 1

If a therapist doesn't find a label for you, they can't continue to treat you, or get paid. Although I often work closely with them, I also sometimes wonder why they constantly feel the need to ALWAYS find a diagnosis, instead of just saying, "This person has a different personality than most other people. Nothing wrong with them. Just not the norm." So you're not the social butterfly. Some people prefer and enjoy spending their time fishing on a stream by them selves, instead of bumping shoulders at a party. Some people prefer having one GOOD friend, instead of a Roladex full of pals. Does that make them antisocial?

Maybe you noticed these things since childhood because they are your personality, not because something's been 'wrong' with you since you were a child?

I think you're asking an excellent question. Unfortunately, in these times of 'everyone's got some psychological problem that needs treatment' you'll probably be hardpressed to find anyone willing to say it's just the way you are.

A better question may be, are YOU, or can you be, happy with your life? Do you have activities that you enjoy, even if they're things you do alone? Are you depressed because you feel unhappy with your life, or are you unhappy because you feel you need to be 'like everyone else'? Sometimes I wonder that so many people are labeled depressed, etc., because NO ONE fits the current model of the norm. Of course, no one gets rich, if they just tell people that, tell them to enjoy being different, don't prescribe them drugs, and tell them they need to learn to love them selves as they are because they don't need any more visits.

Answer 2

Yep, it's possible. I've dealt with dysthymia (chronic depression) my whole life, only I had to slide into major depression a couple of times before recognizing it for what it was. When it starts young, it's hard to know that there's an illness at work since you don't really know life to be much different.

Find a licensed psychotherapist that you trust and are comfortable around, and a good psychiatrist. The therapist can help you sort through issues, help you gain better insight into yourself, and be a good sounding board on the meds.

Don't stress on all the labels. They're really only useful for figuring out what medication(s) are apt to be effective. Anxiety goes hand in hand with depression, and many are beginning to suspect that BPII is a different from of depression, albeit one that responds better to different meds. OCD can fit in their, too, and the same meds can be effective for that as well. All this stuff is related and basically different symptoms of the same illness (at least that's my opinion). I can tell you that it is manageable with the right meds and therapist. And, yes, if it started in childhood, that's ground to explore with a therapist if for no other reason than that you formed some ways of perceiving the world long ago and they are probably no longer healthy thinking patterns nor readily in your awareness.

Answer 3

I am sorry you feel the way you do! I think it is possible to have depression over a number of years quite often it comes back when your older and a situation comes up and shows depression again. I don't believe your lazy or anti-social you are not very well and need to beat these before you can move on with your life, once you do this everything else will fall into place. best of luck!!

Answer 4

Yes most defintely and now having a bunch of negative labels
won't help your self esteem, don't feel bad about this, it is global,
research depression, it comes in all forms, mine surfaced as
severe anxiety and I take Paxil....after six months of adjustment to the meds, I feel much better. Keep helping yourself, you are worth it.

Answer 5

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 6

when i was 19 a therapist told me i had major depressive disorder and never got happy, good, nice feelings like normal peoople did. i dismissed his words because i couldn't relate to something i knew nothing about-referring to the good feelings. now i am 42 and am in a world of ****. i can't work and am awaitng disability because i just lost it. to answer your question, i wish i had continued to see that man; i wouldn't be in the mess i'm in now. it can't hurt to research what this doc has said to you, what do you have to lose? i would hate to see you end up like me.

Answer 7

It can happen that way, and often the simple answers are correct.