How can I stop being depressed and change my life?

Question

I am 15 and since grade 7 I have been taking medication for depression and it has been helping me, but I have started to feel depressed again. I don't hang out with my friends anymore, and it seems like whenever I'm online on msn or yahoo, they are offline, and when I go online they go offline, so I figure that they don't like me. Maybe Im just paranoid but I dunno, it seems that way. I have been getting thoughts about killing myself on a daily basis for about a while now. I lay awak in bed all night and think about how to do it and where and when to do it but I don't want to but I can't help it. I feel lonely and invisible, and I can't seem to get any advice from anyone. I try to ask this before and people just told me that im selfish and a loser, but I just want to know how to change myself so I can be a better person so I dont have to be that way. I know i seem selfish but i cant figure out how to change my life, andn nothing has helped so can u please tell me what I can do to help?

** I know that Yahoo is not the place to ask for advice on stuff like this, but my parents dont understand, I tried talking to a teacher and they send me to a school counseller but there was no counseller there today, and I feel embarassed to keep asking about it. So, I dunno who else to ask.

Answer 1

i think about killing my self every second of every day for quite a while now so i can see when your coming from with most of this although I'm ready to die i cant wait i don't see my life getting any better at all, im to far gone. But really you have to try and find out what you really want its your life its your choice maybe things will get better but then again maybe they will not each person's out come is different in some way or another. all you can really do at this point is try to find things that you like to do and consume your time with that. it may take your mind off things a Little behind that you should make your own judgment.

Answer 2

After reading most of the answers to ur question, u r right yahoo is no the answer because there are ppl on just mucking around with stupid answers and making u confused.
I have had depression for five years which developed when i was in year 7. Sometimes other kids pull away cos they dont understand y ur sad all the time and dont know what to do to help u. It would b harder being a boy too coz males have trouble expressing themselves. The worst thing u could ever do is end ur own life. Your parents care but they may not understand. Do u talk to them about how u feel? Or do they assume the medication is working wonders. I bet they dont know about ur suicidal thoughts because if they did u would be getting more help. Depressed ppl have a way of looking okay on the surface, but underneath they feel like a huge weight is crushing them.
You really need to let it all out boy. You have to talk to someone. The more time u spend thinking alone, the more time u have to convince urself that ur worthless. And u r NOT.
If ur parents switch off, talk to a close relative, kids helpline, welfare. Anyone u think could get u some help. And when they say "Do something u enjoy and u will feel better", dont settle for that. U need more than an hour fishing, or bike riding or whatever u enjoy, u need ppl around u to support u until u feel 100%.
Dont give up on urself young man because ur just beginning ur life. And it starts by crawling out of that dark hole.
Stop the thoughts of suicide
Feel like its okay to cry, and find someone u trust that can help u.
If everything fails, go to a youth centre based on helping troubled teens. Do whatever it takes but do not stop til ur happy. I recommend a book called "Taming the Black Dog" any bookstore should have it. Ur not selfish. Just temporarily down in the dumps

Answer 3

Selfishness (or what seems like selfishness) is a by-product of depression. So you really need to treat the depression successfully. It sounds like the medication isn't working for you anymore, and some anti-depressant medication can cause you to have suicidal thoughts. That's a side effect that your doctor needs to be aware of, so please tell your mom you need to talk to the doctor this week, if possible. Meanwhile, do not act on those thoughts. That means, don't to through with trying to kill yourself.

The following things have been known to help depression naturally:
- Exercising
- Sunlight, or some type of light therapy (my daughter goes to a tanning bed 3 times a week or so, and it really does help)
- Taking Omega-3 Fish Oil capsules (you can buy them at Wal-mart, but I suggest getting the coated ones). Take 2 a day consistently - - do not skip and do not give up after just a couple of weeks. It may take several weeks for it to start helping.
- B-complex
- Do not take St. John's Wort or 5-HTP supplements while you are taking anti-depressants (ask the doctor about this)
- Find a hobby or an activity that you enjoy doing alone. This will take the focus off of your paranoid feelings towards your friends. But once in awhile, try to get your friends together to go out to the movies or something.
- Write in a journal or you can blog privately online.
- Cold showers (I think they energize and get the circulation going)
- Check your library to see if they have a book on cognitive therapy for depression or anxiety. Learning coping skills will help you a lot in the years to come.

Okay, that's it. I wish you the best and I sympathize. Don't ever give up. Life does get better, you just have to keep hanging in there!

Answer 4

Hi mate, I know where you are coming from so don't feel alone. I suffered depression from an early age and couldn't understand it. After years of taking pills to cope with anxiety attacks and OCD witch both made my depression worse, I'm now completely off all medication and feeling great. People who don't have depression cant understand it, the same way as it is hard to understand other mental health issues like eating disorders.
I also understand why friends might be moving on, miserable people aren't fun. I had allot of friends leave my side, and now I understand why, they are protecting themselves, it's really easy to feel down if your friends are.
I cant tell you how to fix it, but I will say this much, don't just kill yourself because you feel like there is no other way out. There is always something that you can do to change. Learn to deal with the underlying problem.
There is a on-line counciling group called 'beyond blue', maybe you should contact them, they may even hook you up in a buddy system.

You just have to know that the dark cloud will rise, and you will shed your skin, to enjoy a new way of life. It just takes time.

You are loved

Answer 5

I really feel for you. I've been having suicidal thoughts since around junior high too. I'm gay and naturally very sensitive and my family is anything but supportive. I never had too many friends in high school and I've came very very close to calling it quits. I've went as far as making plans and researching methods, but I have yet to make an actual attempt. I won't tell you not to hurt yourself, or how to change your life, but I will say that I understand the place your in and how hopeless you must feel. I'm still there actually and I only wish I could meet you and just give u a hug. Acknowledgment is what hurting people need. Not criticism and an accusation of selfishness. If you can't see anything good in your life, why not sit down and make a list of everything that your the most talented at. Draw a picture. Write a letter. Express your feelings somehow. Of course I'm no psychologist, but venting is sooo healing. Find friends who accept you for you and won't bring u down. Try getting out in bright sunlight too. Email me if u want. I need more friends as well.

Answer 6

Go back to your doctor- believe it or not some side effects of depression medication are suicidal thoughts!

One theory is that it lifts the depression enough to give the person energy to start to act on those thoughts.

Personally, I think that it gets you into a business like attitude, and you start to think- time to take care of business, and your fear is wiped away with your depression.

What ever the cause-be it that you need more or less medication- know this...

This is not forever. This is not everything.

Your world is a fishbowl- you have only been presented a single view of it- the world that your parents and peers and the popular media have given you.

As you grow older, (and now, even) you will find some "personal truths".

One personal truth you will find is that the world is not as it has been presented to you. What the world is to you is your own thing.

You are lonely because you think there is no one else like you- you are alone- but the shell that people wear is deeper then they allow you to believe.

Those happy people who "have it together" at school- they are trapped in their own world and their view are not as shiny as you see it from your side.

That is why everything is confusing at this time- because you are coming into those self-truths, and they are not jiving with what you have been taught.

Go back to your doctor, get the meds in line- these thoughts are a symptom just like a sore throat is a symptom.

Many times "Mental" is really "Medical" and there is a process going on upstairs that is not always entirely under your personal control.

Answer 7

Why don't you hang out with you friends anymore? And I'm not simply talking about online, but in person. Your friends might not be avoiding you, you all might simply jsut be online at diferent times(That's what happens to me). It's not selfish to want want to spent time withe friends. It's part of our human nature to need a sense of belonging. Compnaionship is actually one of the basic needs to survive(others including, shelter and nourishment). Some things that can help with that depression is to have more interactions with people, in person. If you're unable to spent much time with your friends now because someone might be busy, join a club, or makes new friends. That doesn't mean you have to lose the ones you already have. Start a new hobby or find something else that you enjoy as well. Another thing you could try to do is try some sort of physical activities. Exercise not only keeps you healthy but helps to release more chemicals that will actually make you happier.

Answer 8

First off you need professional help, not Yahoo answers. As far as suicidal thoughts, that isn't selfish and you aren't a loser. However you do need immediate help! Now you said the meds you were on helped for a long time. Well as we grow old our body chemistry can change. So this could be as easy as making an appointment and them helping you figure out what meds are right for you today.

Chemical imbalances can make you feel depressed even if your life is well not perfect, but great if you will. It's quite common and don't feel embarrassed about it. Just please, I'm begging you GET HELP! No one can do it for you. Suicidal thoughts aren't a choice, but getting help is.

Also I would recommend calling a crisis line of some sort which you can find at www.save.org (suicide awareness voices of education) or finding someone preferably a professional to talk to about this before it gets out of hand.

Take it from me, been through 2 suicides in my life and one just Jan 2nd of a yes, 16 year old boy. It was my nephews best friend. It is very serious and even if others might not take it serious, don't take it personal most just don't understand the severity of these thoughts. Just move forward and get the help you not only need, but deserve.

While excersize is great like others said. This alone will not help you, but you can do this on top of other things I have mentioned. And for the one who says "Get rid of the bad thoughts in your head". It just isn't that easy, and that is ok. Some things worth fighting for "our health" don't come easy all the time.
Best of Luck to you, seek help and I'm sure you will be just fine.

Answer 9

This is not the wrong place to ask. There are people here who understand. I want you understand something. I know you feel right now that nobody else understands how you feel right now. I want you to know that we do! We know how it feels, that it's hard, being 15 is tough. You're going to be okay - I'm sure, but you have to let yourself. Your body and mind are maturing to adult size and it's hard on the brain. Until you equilibriate, you feel some tension inside of you.
You know what will help you a lot? Exercise - you might be one of those guys that hates to exercise, but I promise if you can find a way to get some exercise, it will help you more than you can understand right now. That's the best way I can recommend to you to change your life. Make sure you are eating the right stuff. I'm not saying you can't eat things you like, just keep everything in a balance. Things will change and you will be happy again.

Answer 10

First of all are you still on your medication? if not you need to go back on them. if you are you need to go see your doctor about it because sometimes your body gets used the the anti depressants and so they don't work as well.

You need to be able to talk to someone about your feelings, its hard opening up so someone! but honestly once you talk out your feelings too someone that wants to help you, you will start too feel better.

Your friends may be finding it a little hard to understand why you feel the way you do, They are also only 15 years old and may not have the maturitiy too know how to help you. As for you going online and they are offline i would say it is a coincidence nothing more.

You are at a very difficult time in your life and lying awake trying too think of ways too kill your self is not going to help. Try when you are in bed setting yourself a goal like tomorrow after school i am going to go for a walk or something that you have too look foward too then you will spend the whole day looking foward too it.. and the same with the next day and the next day.....

i know how hard bad it feels to feel as though you are all alone but believe me you are not! i am 24 years old with 2 preciouse little girls and a pretty incredible husband but i feel exsactly the way you feel right now!

Feel free too send me an email i will try too help you in anyway!

You are not selfish! you are struggling, but you will get better! also try some positive thinking when you start too think bad things about yourself start too think good things instead...
I hope this helps :)
Smile.