I suffer from depression?

Question

should i take medication im only 18 and im always very depressed is it possible i only think im depressed but im not realy depressed???

Answer 1

If possible, try therapy first. Meds should really be a last resort... especially for young people.

Answer 2

I am not a medical expert but have had personal experience with family members who have suffered from depression.

Seeking medication for a condition you are unsure you have cannot be the right answer. If you really feel depressed please see your doctor, who is qualified to diagnose clinical depression. I am not, nor, I fear, will many of the members of this forum.

However, depression is an insidious condition and you will be well advised to avoid it. Firstly, I would suggest you take stock of your life situation, check out the things in your life you are not happy about, and then check the things you are happy about. A simple list could encourage you to look on the brighter side.

Christmastime traditionally is the worst time for those affected by depression, probably those who are alone and without partners, friends, family around them. If you are in this condition please seek help. I'm sure there is a similar organisation in the USA (if that's where you are from) to the English 'Samaritans'. These are a core of willing volunteers who are on the other end of a telephone for you. They will be happy to talk to you and help in anyway they can. It may be all you need to feel better about your life. They'll be in the 'phone book.

As I said at the beginning, I'm no expert, but if you want to talk 'off screen' through e-mail I would be happy to converse with you and help if I can.

If you really do get 'down' and feel depressed, don't try to hide away from people, please, please seek help. There are many willing people who are prepared to set time aside to help.

Cheer up if you can and have the very best holiday period you can.

Merry Christmas,

BobSpain

Answer 3

Honey, if you think you are depressed, then you probably are. Yes, you should take medication. Go to the doctor and get help. There is nothing wrong with being depressed, other than it is dangerous, and very treatable. I am on medication for my depression, and my depression is caused from me being bipolar. You need to find out what is causing the depression, and what you can do to help yourself, besides the medication and diagnosis. After you figure out why you are depressed, it is much easier to find a solution for the problem.

Answer 4

I think its a pretty common thing to be depressed as a teen. depending on how severe, I would not get on medication, espicially narcotics such as xanax, valium, or others. These can be very dependable. I would start off with Paxil, Cymbolta, Effexor, or Zoloft to see how you react to this. But seeing a shrink is always best as a first resort. Only let a psychiatrist prescribe the medication, because they will know what best suits your needs. Your primary care provider can also prescribe the meds but only if they know anything about mental health.

Answer 5

The decision to start these medications is really up to you. Just remember that many of them have side effects you then have to deal with.
There are tests to see if you are really depressed. Why don't you try one of them? You can find one here: http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=depression+screening&page=1&offset=1&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D11c35d83b9e48571%26clickedItemRank%3D1%26userQuery%3Ddepression%2Bscreening%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.depression-screening.org%252F%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPToolbarNS%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.depression-screening.org%2F
I've dealt with depression in the past and have found that a good exercise program, followed daily, is a great solution to relieving depression....and with no side effects.

Answer 6

GO SEE A DOCTOR ASAP TO SEE IF YOU ARE THEY WILL DO A LOT OF TEST ON YOU AND SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU IF IT IS DEPRESSION THEN THEY WILL PUT YOU ON MEDICATION ARE JUST DO BLOOD WORK A UR A MRI
CAT SCAN A EMG EEG THEY WILL EVEN DO A SLEEP STUDY ON YOU I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH BEEN THERE DONE IT I AM TYPE 1-2 MANIC DEPRESSION

Answer 7

If you have had occasional thoughts of suicide (serious thoughts) or have thought of harming yourself (cutting) then it woul be a good idea to get on some meds.

I've been on Zoloft since I was 15 and it works great for me.
My life completely changed.

Come talk to me about it.
I know a lot of info on the subject.
Plus, I've been in your shoes.

Answer 8

try altering your diet, a more natural diet with less simple sugars can help...try exercise and light therapy if you are not in a sunny climate...and if all else fails medications are an important option, they are sometimes overprescribed which is why I would recommend saving them as a last option...and they are not final either...I know people who have successfully gotten off medication and some who have reduced it considerably...

good luck...

Answer 9

Talk to your parents or someone and see if you need to see a therapist. Only a psychiatrist can prescribe the meds for you anyway, so he or she will be able to determine whether you need them.

Answer 10

You should if you cannot overcome your depression after going to therapy.