i have never been depressed in my life or so i dont think but?

Question

what do you do?

Answer 1

Hello:
This is in response to your question about the possibility of you having clinical depression. There are a large number of persons who have depression and dont even realize it because they have felt that way for so long, they think that is just supposed to be how you feel. I see many, many patients who come in for some other type of problem and find out that they actually fit the criteria for clinical depression, treat them and their physical symptoms go away.
The DSM-IVR (Diagnostic Statistical Manual version 4 revised) is a book used by mental health providers to help them correctly identify those patients with specific mental illnesses.
The following are the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression:
A. Five r more of the following symptoms have been present during the same two week period and represent a change from previous functioning: at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure. NOTE: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood incongruent delusions or hallucinations.
1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (ie. feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (ie. appears tearful).
2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in al or almost all activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by subjective account or observation by others).
3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain( ie. a change of at least 5% of body weight in one month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day.
5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others).
9. Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
B. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for mixed episode (bipolar disorder).
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiologic effects of substances (ie. drugs of abuse, a medication), or a general medical condition such as thyroid disease.
E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by a bereavement ,ie. the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for greater than two months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms.
In addition to the above many depressed patients have "physical" symptoms: headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, any gastrointestinal upset, neck and back pain, vague complaints of just not feeling right, fatigue, etc.
If you feel like you fit into the above criteria, go see a physician right away. There are many types of treatment including medications (my favorites to use on my patients because they are so well tolerated and work the best are Effexor-XR, Lexapro) and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) done by a licensed professional. Usually a psychiatrist doesnt do this, he/she will only write you a prescription for medication so you need to set up therapy on your own with a LICSW, PhD in Psychology, etc. The best therapy is a combination of the two. Dont down play the role of a balanced diet and exercise which both will boost your neurochemicals, ie serotonin and norepinephrine (the two neurotransmitters most likely responsible for depression when levels drop off). Depression is definately genetic too. Any mental illness in the family puts you at greater risk of depression.
I am a physician and a patient who has been managing depression for nearly 30 years, so I have been there and know what I am talking about.
You dont have to feel this way any longer. Success rates for treating people suffering from depression are very good with the medications we have available to us now.
There is a good book that I want to recommend to you. It is called "Ten Days to Self-Esteem" which is written by a physician. The title is a little misleading. The book actually deals more with depression and anxiety than self-esteem although people suffering with depression usually esteem issues. It just goes with the territory.
I hope this helped answer your questions and alleviate some of your concerns.
Like I said, if you think that you are suffering from clinical depression, get professional help. Rather than seeing the world through "#&%@ colored glasses" you can see the world much more clearly when that "#&%@" (the depression) is wiped away. That is just a little phrase I tell my patients when I first start treating them for depression. It usually gets a little smile out of them.
Best of luck.
Warren Shaffer, M.D.

Answer 2

What do you do if you're depressed?

Well, your age, gender, and what's going on in your life have A LOT to do with all this.

If you're a teenage female, it's natural to get mood swings and stuff. You just have to walk 'em off, so to speak. Read, go out with friends, be around family, talk... The worst thing to do when you're depressed is introvert yourself, believe me. If you're a male, you're less likely to have those, but guys still have 'em. I grew up with guys for friends, so I was more of a tomboy and never really had them bad.

If you keep getting depressed, no matter what you do, and for no reason, see a psychiatrist. I'm not saying you're crazy, it's just nice to have someone who won't judge you for your problems and who's trained in advising people with your condition. Stay away from depression medications, though, as they're all very unstable.

Even talking it out with people online, whom you don't even know, helps. I mean, if they judge you online, so what? It's not like it should affect you, because you don't really know them and they don't really know you.

Do whatever you can to avoid bottling, hun. That's all I've got to say. Learn from my mistakes.

Answer 3

I TELL YOU BUDDY YOU DON'T THINK OF ERADICATION OF CAUSE OF YOUR DEPRESSION. FIND THE CAUSE AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO SOLUTION. ALSO PRAY TO GOD FOR HELP. THIS IS HOW GREAT PEOPLE THINK.