How do you know it's depression?

Question

Okay...I have been through a LOT in the last year of my life.

The only reason I'm asking this here, is because my own doctor is one of those that if you present with a sore knee...he'll say you're depressed and try to prescribe you an anti-depressant. UGH

I took care of my grandmother, who died in August, 24/7 from September 15, 2005 to August 3, 2006. She had a severe stroke (unexpected, she had broken her hip and became an amputee because of a severe leg tear in the fall...but yet was totally with it in the head is why I took care of her, we would NOT put her in a nursing home).

I had to break down her door and get to her (mom was on the phone with her when it happened), because I had just left to feed my pets at my house.

She died August 8, her funeral was August 11, and the children we were matched with to adopt moved in August 15.

I have not grieved her, I can't seem to feel joy regarding the adoption even though our kids are GREAT! (continued in comments)

But yet, I am so grouchy (I have heel spurs in both feet that were triggered by taking care of grandma) and I just feel very out of touch with who I used to be.

I'm afraid to take medicine because I am so hypersensitive to medicine, especially downers, that I am afraid I'd sleep all of the time.

Add that to the fact a sister of mine became addicted to pain medicine and uses a "bi-polar" story (she really is NOT bi-polar) to obtain downers because she can't have narcotics now...you can see my reservations.

Am I depressed, or is this temporary?

Thanks for listening.

Answer 1

You have natural situational depression - of course, you have feelings about the things you've just been through - that is NOT the same as clinical depression !
Drugs are bullshit ! You need bereavement group counseling, that is usually free at the nearest hospital or hospice...
Good Luck !
you need a new doctor; one that has some compassion & common sense !

Answer 2

Honey, you have been through alot. However, depression can come on even if you haven't been through anything. There is no "cause" for depression, nor is there a "cure", only a treatment. No one can tell if it is temporary or not. Let me tell you something though...alot of what you are feeling are some of the things that I felt too. Finally I got help. and yes, medication. It took a while to find the right one and the right dose, but I'm so glad that I did. I feel wonderful. The pills are no miracle cure, but they sure do help. Therapy helps too. You need to take care of yourself now. Do whats best for YOU. Do whatever it takes to make YOU feel good now. Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

You need to grieve for her so you can move on. Allow yourself to do that. Take the time to sit back and give yourself permission to grieve the loss.

You have been through a traumatic event in your life and I suggest you contact a counselor to just talk, no meds.

The next thing I suggest is find another doctor. Any doctor that want to prescribe antidepressants like candy should be reported. What a quacker. He most likely has stock in the drug company that makes them.

Take care of yourself, be good to yourself. Relax, take it easy. You will feel better soon.

Answer 4

Well I truely do feel for you...I lost my mother on December 6, 2006. I also felt the same way for a while...Depression is often a very common result of loss and grief. Most likely it is a temporary thing...After a while you get on with it. I don't mean that the entire 'life is back to "normal"', but you do feel better. About the medication, Try to avoid medication unitl you feel it is going to unwell without it i. e. suicide. One big way to help is stress relief and distraction. Hope I could help one tiny minute bit.

Answer 5

My condolences for your loss. There are 2 types of Depression. One is no matter what you do can't make yourself happy, even though everything if fine. Second is situational depression, in my personal opinion and own experience. My belief is that is your situation. I do highly recommend to find a professional counselor, psychologist. That is a good start. Some insurance companies cover the cost for psychologist. Talking to a professional is the best way to go.

Answer 6

You can call it "clinical" if: "The person's symptoms are not due to normal grief or bereavement over the death of a loved one, they continue for more than two months, (It's January 2007 now; she passed away last August. You're having obvious difficulty "moving on".), or they include great difficulty in functioning, frequent thoughts of worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, symptoms that are psychotic, or behavior that is slowed down (psychomotor retardation)."

You should permit yourself the luxury be professionally evaluated - and treated. On the surface, it does appear that you are clinically depressed. This isn't your fault. People suffering from clinical depression who fail to get treatment are statistically at much greater risk for increased number and severity of future episodes. Don't play around with your health; get a professional on board.

Major Depressive Disorder (Diagnostic Criteria)

Major depressive disorder is also known as major depression, clinical depression, or unipolar depression. The term unipolar refers to the presence of one pole, or one extreme of mood- depressed mood. This may be compared with bipolar depression which has the two poles of depressed mood and mania (i.e., euphoria, heightened emotion and activity).
Different people are affected in different ways by major depression.. For about two-thirds of those individuals who have a major depressive episode they will recover completely. The other one-third may recover only partially or not at all. People who do not recover completely may have a higher chance of experiencing one or more additional episodes..

Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode

Summarized from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- Fourth Edition

A. The person experiences a single major depressive episode:
.For a major depressive episode a person must have experienced at least five of the nine symptoms below for the same two weeks or more, for most of the time almost every day, and this is a change from his/her prior level of functioning.

One of the symptoms must be either (a) depressed mood, or (b) loss of interest.

Depressed mood. For children and adolescents, this may be irritable mood.
-A significantly reduced level of interest or pleasure in most or all activities.
-A considerable loss or gain of weight (e.g., 5% or more change of weight in a month when not dieting). This may also be an increase or decrease in appetite. For children, they may not gain an expected amount of weight.
-Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia), or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia).
-Behavior that is agitated or slowed down. Others should be able to observe this.
-Feeling fatigued, or diminished energy.
-Thoughts of worthlessness or extreme guilt (not about being ill).
-Ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions is reduced.
-Frequent thoughts of death or suicide (with or without a specific plan), or attempt of suicide.
-The persons' symptoms do not indicate a mixed episode.
-The person's symptoms are a cause of great distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work, or other important areas.
-The person's symptoms are not caused by substance use (e.g., alcohol, drugs, medication), or a medical disorder.

B. Another disorder does not better explain the major depressive episode.

C. The person has never had a manic, mixed, or a hypomanic Episode (unless an episode was due to a medical disorder or use of a substance).

Possible specifiers to describe the episode:
Severity: mild, moderate, severe without psychotic features

Answer 7

sounds like you've had a tough year as others have too...I've taken care of sick parents for years and I can't say that it causes heel spurs....if you are having trouble sleeping at night, waking up, can't go back to sleep, if you are spending time crying when no one is looking many times a day, if you can't eat or eat way too much, if you are thinking suicide is a way out, then you know you have depression. If not, then rack it up to a tough year of life and move on....good luck....