how do you know if you have depression?

Question

I have been feeling really sad lately and tired all of the time. Im 16, and my counselor at school has asked me if anything was wrong because I have missed so much school and my grades have droped. Should I go to the doctors? How do they diagnose depression? Thanks!

Answer 1

Usually, when pediatric psychologists (the people who talk to you and give you non-medical treatments) and pediatric psychiatrists (the people who can prescribe medicine for you) diagnose depression, they ask you questions about how you're feeling, how long you've been feeling this way, how intense is it, if you feel like hurting yourself or other people and other questions and follow a sort of checklist of symptoms that depressed people have. They follow a guide outlined in a handbook called the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders) that is published by the American Psychiatric Association. If you've been feeling really sad and also have physical symptoms like tiredness, achiness, too much or too little eating and/or sleeping, definitely go see a doctor and make sure he checks to see if there is nothing wrong with your body. If that's ok, ask him to refer you to a pediatric psychologist or a pediatric psychiatrist who can treat you for depression. There could be something wrong with, for example, any number of hormones or you could have some other physical thing wrong with you. Depression and illnesses that have symptoms that are similar to those in depression are fairly common amongst teenagers. Remember your body and mind are connected and your behavior and your "state of mind" are strongly interconnected. Do the things that make you happy and change your behaviors so that you'll feel better about yourself. It's no accident that we kind of walk around all tired and slumped when we're sad and walk with our chin up and a little hop in our step when we're happy. Walking with your chin up will help. Give yourself a treat or do something you like that makes you feel good and relaxed when you perform actions that are good for you like completing and doing well in school tasks and homeworks or exams. For example, if you go to school for a week, without skipping and complete all your homeworks, at the end of the week treat yourself. Do that for a few weeks, then extend it to two straight weeks, then three and so on. Give yourself a little snack for every two - three genuine hours that you study for an exam. Tell yourself that you WILL ace the exam and when you do, give yourself a real treat like a manicure or something else that oyu like. Also, get into activities like sports or a gym that help work up a sweat, and pick up hobbies that help relax you like musical instruments or yoga or reading. If you need to work with a professional, also get the cognitive (the thinking part) and behavioral (the doing or acting part) therapy and help. There's tons of information out there on depression, and medical sites like WebMD, the American Psychiatric Association (psych.org) the American Psychological Association (apa.org) and government websites (like the NIH or NIMH sites) are good sources. Make sure you keep yourself well informed as everyone has an opinion about these things and there are people out there that will tell you things like depression doesn't exist or you should just snap out of it and grow up, or things like that that only make things worse. The only ones that count are you doctor's, your parents' or a trusted adults' and your own. I hope you feel better :-)

Answer 2

Yes go to your doctor. He can diagnose and set you on the right track. You do have a couple of syptoms but they can go a couple of different ways. Sleeping and missing school can be signs of depression but also abuse among other things. You need to see a doctor for an actual diagnosis.
Good Luck and you are in my prayers.

Answer 3

Sadly, most people who have depression don't know it at the time. But some signs of depression are loss of energy in things that you used to enjoy, constant bad thoughts about yourself, short-comings with people you love that you wouldn't normally be short with, change in weight/eating habbits, there's more, but those are usually the first signs. I've had depression myself. I would recommend seeing a doctor you trust, or talking with a friend/person you trust and ask them what they think about you lately as they've observed you, i.e., if there are any changes in you that they know not to be normal. But the sooner you do it the better. This is something you do not want to put off. Even if it turns out you don't have it, better to find out you don't, than to have it and ignore it. Good luck :)

Answer 4

you should go & see a doctor,

What is depression?

Depression is a serious medical condition. Everyone experiences "ups" and "downs" in their life. But for some people the "downs" can outweigh the "ups." This can cause problems with everyday activities such as eating, sleeping, working, and getting along with friends. If this happens for more than a few weeks, depression may be the reason.

Depression affects a person's physical health, as well as how he or she feels, thinks, and acts toward others. It brings about a mixture of feelings and thoughts that can cause someone to depart from his or her usual behavior.

Depression is very common — it affects an estimated 19 million American adults every year. Nearly twice as many women (6.5%) as men (3.3%) suffer from depression each year. The good news is that it is possible to manage the symptoms of depression.

What causes depression?
Although the exact causes of depression are unknown, it may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Serotonin and norepinephrine are 2 chemicals used by some nerve cells to communicate. These chemicals, called neurotransmitters, are thought to be linked to depression. Therefore, medications that affect these neurotransmitters may play a role in treating depression.

A person may experience symptoms of depression suddenly, for no apparent reason, or after a life-changing event or medical illness. Some types of depression run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited.

Take action if you believe you suffer from depression
As with any medical condition, depression should be treated by a health care professional. The first step toward relieving depression symptoms is to speak with your doctor as soon as possible. By seeing your doctor at the first sign of depression symptoms, you increase your chances of getting over these symptoms and keeping them from returning. Even if you've sought treatment for depression in the past, it is not uncommon for symptoms to return and interfere with your life again. Whenever you start to notice depression symptoms, don't wait to talk with your doctor

Answer 5

there are different kinds of depression...situational and clinical...if something had been stressing you out maybe at school or work if you have a job it could just be situational and will pass...if it is clinical i used to go to a phyciatrist...it made me feel a lot better and helped me get through some tough times...16 was a really rough age for me to...just try to remember that there will always be someone you can talk to...maybe a teacher or a friend your parents...maybe go talk to your school counselor...they cant disclose any info to anyone else unless you say something like you are going to harm someone else or yourself...hope you feel better

Answer 6

Yes you should go to the doctor. Depression can have physical causes, or be clinical depression, or even sunlight affective depression which occurs due to lack of expossure to sunlight.
Or it could just be typical for your age (we all go through some of it). If it is SAD tanning sessions do help, they also just make me feel good, relaxed more like it's summer

Answer 7

I've felt this way too, especially when I was in high school. You should definitely talk to someone! They say you have clinical depression if you lose interest in things that normally make you happy and if your sleeping habits change and if you've been depressed for long periods of time (like 2 weeks) with no change.

Answer 8

Nothing makes you happy, you don't sleep well or sleep too much, you don't eat enough, or eat too much, you're edgy, you cry easily or get angry easily.

At 16, kids don't have it easy at all. Being a girl, you are bombarded by a trillion images that will only make you feel worse about yourself. You can't deal with it alone sometimes, please talk to your doctor or school nurse asap!

Answer 9

Signs & Symptoms

* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed more>>

Answer 10

I'm depressed myself. Maybe you should see a doctor. I was going to but I don't have enough money, which makes it all the more depressing.