Anyone have good information about depression?

Question

I feel like I might be depressed, but I don't know how to be sure. I'm usually happy and smiling when I'm with my friends, but whenever I'm alone, I start feeling really sad and lonely and bored. My grades are suffering in school, because I don't pay attention and I don't feel motivated. I'm tired a lot (but that's mostly because I hang out with friends until late) but when I finally do have time for a rest, I never sleep well. I know that a good diet and a sleep routine and all that stuff would help, but I am just not motivated enough to do it. Does anyone have any advise or sugestions? Or any information on depression and how to treat it? Thanks.

I should also add that me and my boyfriend just had a really slow and painful break up (I still have feelings for him, but he does not return them). But my grades were suffering before this, and I've had these feelings for a long time.

Answer 1

The feelings and behaviors that you describe are symptoms of a depressive disorder, but without knowing and seeing you, it is impossible to say how severe the disorder is. But from what you describe, you do seem to have a depressive disorder. One of the other criteria is that these moods and behaviors are significantly harming your schoolwork, which you say is happening because you are getting poor grades.

I think that it is possible that you are not only sad over your break-up with your bf, but that you have reached the point that you have a true depressive disorder. A depression disorder is a combination of moods, thoughts, and behaviors that show that you are clinically depressed--that you have a disorder, not just a bad mood. Poor concentration, inability to feel pleasure, problems sleeping and eating, poor motivation, depressed mood, feeling irritable, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness--all of these things that you describe are symptoms of a "clinical depressive disorder". First off, you should talk to your parents about your feelings and your behavior. They will probably be much more understanding than you think they might be, and they will probably help you to get treatment for your depression. If you don't feel safe talking to your parents, you can go to your counselor at school who can help you to find a therapist or counselor to talk to. Because you are young, if you follow some basic structure of therapy that includes doing some scheduling of your activities, some work on your behaviors and thoughts, they should be able to help you to feel better without having to take an anti-depressant medication. But if the therapist or counselor thinks that you should see a psychiatrist (an MD who can prescribe medications for you), you should go for an evaluation. It all depends on how severe the therapist thinks that your disorder is, how seriously it is affecting you.

If you have thoughts about harming yourself, or if you are cutting or otherwise hurting yourself, you should go to a crisis center or an emergency room right away. You don't have to live with such pain in your life. It is a very good sign that you were able to reach out to others by asking the question in the first place. Now you should do more and go to see someone who can help you in person.

You can look up the symptoms of major depressive disorders on: www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/mjrdepep.htm
and it also has links to other depressive disorders. But it is usually really difficult to diagnose yourself, and you can't treat yourself, so it is better to go to a counselor for help.

Good luck. It DOES get better, too, and more quickly if you get good treatment for it.

Answer 2

It does sound like you're depressed, the lack of motivation and the lack of attention are signs. Try to look at the positive things in your life, I know this isn't always easy, but just trying will help. Try to do something you enjoy, this could be anything, reading a book, listening to music, watching a film or tv, absolutely anything that puts a smile on your face. Talk to someone close to you about it, tell them how you feel. I know you said you stay out with your friends til late, now I don't want to sound like an old fuddy duddy, but try to get an early night now and again, sleep is the body and minds way of healing. If you start feeling worse, then go and see your doctor, and explain it, they will be able to help. Good Luck. xxx

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Answer 3

I were affliction from publish partum despair for the beyond one yr whilst I gave beginning to a child boy. I could not give up considering how my husband loves him greater than me and the way matters possibly larger if he wasn't born in any respect. Thus, I stayed clear of him since I knew that I would do some thing I will remorse for the relaxation of my lifestyles. Almost immediately I went to a therapist and persuade them that I want aid. Among different matters, I've attempted natural dietary supplements and different booklet to regard despair however not anything works just like the Depression Free Method. So now I'm proud to mention I'm one of the most happiest mom on this planet. My husband loves us each very so much and I thank the Lord for the blessing he gave us. Depression Free Method?

Answer 4

Your sad from the breakup but remember your young and there are many fish in the sea. Try speaking with your parents about depression and ask them if they could get you into going to see a counselor to help you deal with this. Hopefully your parents will want to get you the help you need. You can go to the nearest mental health clinic or see your own doctor to recommend one.

Answer 5

Sounds like your sad over your break up, but also sounds like there is underlying depression. I find a regular sleep pattern very helpful in stabilizing mood. Establish a regular bed time, stay in bed 8 hours, whether you sleep or not. Meditate if you can't get to sleep. Set the alarm. When it goes off, get up immediately and then immediately get into a hot shower. This will do more to wake up your brain cells, shake off depressive thoughts, and create new energy than ten cups of coffee dawdled over in a half awake stupor which only turns your thoughts inward and downward in a depressive spiral. Depressive thoughts drain energy. Distract your mind from the depressive thought cycle by engaging in activity. Depression is cured by energy and activity---which produce each other in turn. You must force yourself to get started, but that self starting will create new energy. Some speak of it as clicking the "amygdala" (in the brain) forward, that is, "on". A book: "Cognitive Therapy" may be helpful. I forget the author. Published around early 80's. Avoidance of bedtime either with friends, TV, internet, whatever, is an avoidance of sleep. Probably because the dream cycle leaves you with depressed feelings in the morning, but really this is the psyche trying to heal itself. Just turn off that cycle first thing upon the alarm going off, by forcing yourself to be bright eyed, wide awake, energetic, active, immediately on waking. Force yourself into that shower! This will be an act of will power at first, but do it, and it will become a health producing and happiness producing habit.
Good idea is make a "to do list" the day before. Make it a reasonable one. Don't depress yourself by setting impossible goals. Include a couple of activities you really look forward to. This motivates an eager and early start. Lay out your outfit the night before. Decision making can be difficult when depressed, and can produce more fatigue and depression. Do it at night when your energy is higher. That way you can spring into action in the morning, without going through a a depressing decision making process, which if you awake depressed, may tempt you to just roll over and go back to sleep. Excessive sleep pulls you down the depressive spiral.

Do not be a perfectionist. Only God is perfect. Expecting perfecton of ourselves is unrealistic, and can only set us up for dissappointment. Just sincerely do your best, and enjoy the satisfacton in knowing that you have done your best, and in knowing that if you have erred, it has been an honest error. Do learn from your mistakes. Trial and error is the very most successsful learning mechanism on the planet---be it by humans or unicellular creatures.

Try to find a good friend, a parent, a counsellor, a minister or priest---someone you can really have heart to heart, no holds barred conversations with about anything, but especially about the things which trouble you. Someone you really trust and who is worthy of the confidence you place in him/her. If it is a friend, just make sure they have their head screwed on tightly or it may be the blind leading the blind down into the abyss. If necessary, seek professional help from a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.

Avoid alcohol and substance abuse. Even prescription drugs simply mask the symptoms. Try to use them minimally if a professional feels they are really necessary for brief chemical therapy. If so, try to find professionals who believe in minimizing prescription drug therapy. Ideally, you want your pcyhe to produce its own happiness without chemical alteration. And remember, life is not a bowl of cherries. We can't have happiness without also some sadness. That is the human condition. If things go too great(too high) for too long, you can bet there will be a crash somehere down the line. And the higher the high, and the longer delayed the crash, the deeper and more severe will it be.

Read : "Desiderata". Be Careful. Strive to be happy!

Vaya con dios!

From one who has been there, done that!

Answer 6

If you don't eat right, you won't feel right- it's that simple.
http://hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp