How do you know if you're depressed???

Question

I think I have been for some time, relationship issues, people dying, no idea what my future holds, not wanting to see people, rahter stay in sometimes etc etc.. I'm not sucidal or anything, but i burst into tears at the drop of a hat and get really down.. Can someone give me any hints?

Answer 1

Although depression can vary from person to person, and although there are different types of depression, I'd day you DEFINITELY have some of the symptoms! In particular, bursting into tears all the time and not wanting to see people.

Be assured that depression can be cured - and it happens to the best of us! You have several options:

1)anti depressants: these get a bad press, but in fact if you consult a good psychiatrist - as opposed to a doctor - you can get excellent results with medication. Do be aware that the medicine can take a few weeks to kick in. Also be prepared that you might possibly have to try more than one type; some people are lucky and the first one they try is excellent, some of us have to try a few. But it can be worth it if you find one that really enables you to cope!

2) Counselling: either talking therapy, or cognitive therapy; the latter has been proven to be effective in aiding depression

Meanwhile, be kind to yourself. Do whatever you enjoy most: I find escaping into a good novel helps. Don't be hard on yourself: you WILL feel better in time, you just need to get the right help.

Some people find alternative health remedies helpful. Also eat plenty of fruit and veg!

Answer 2

There are different levels to depression, some much worse than others. Some are temporary and go away on their own, others last for years and only get worse without help. I've had all levels of depression for the past 15+ years. The lows are when I have intrusive thoughts about suicide every 5 minutes and honestly believe that every day of my life will be exactly the same and nothing will ever get better. If anything, I think that things can only get worse and all I have to 'look forward' to is the death of loved ones and then old age where I'll look back and see that my life was a waste and regret the fact that I never really 'lived'.

The "better" days in my depression involved being oversensitive, crying sometimes for no reason, not knowing what to do with my life and having a feeling that there is a black cloud of doom surrounding me at all times. I try to push it away but it takes major effort and always comes back at some point.

It sounds like you are depressed but it's not like it's a death sentence or anything. Talk to a doctor, it may be a simple thing that will go away over time. You might want to try a low dose of meds for awhile until you get through it. You don't have to be on meds forever, you know. My psychiatrist says I have a combo of things that make my life crap. Severe clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and some Post Traumatic Stress and OCD behavior. She even tossed out the words 'Personality Disorder' which wasn't that pleasant to hear but I'm doing much better now. I'm taking some meds and they work great and I can function again. The important thing is that I can think clearly now and I'm able to do things to put my life back in order. I'm able to understand my 'issues' and work on them. Before the meds, I was too depressed to help myself. That's why it just kept getting worse.

Answer 3

There are things that can make you sad, and then there is depression. But from what little info you have given I think it is probably a safe bet that you are depressed. I would strongly suggest seeing your Family Doctor and telling him how you feel. Allot of times they will have samples right in the office they can give you to try to see if it helps. Coming from experience I know how it feels to be depressed. I would stay in, didn't want to talk to anyone at all, even shut out my best friends for awhile. I would cry sometimes over the stupidest things. I went to the doctor, and told him what was happening, and he gave me some medication. Now keep in mind it isn't an instant fix, but about 4 days later I went to the movies with my husband, and within a week I started to feel like myself again. They won't stop you from ever being sad, but they will help you to be happy again too! I hope this helps :)

Answer 4

There are some tests online or you could go see doctor. If you don't want either of these things, some signs of depression are that you feel either relly tired or can't sleep, that you have changes in your eating pattern, that you cry or feel down a lot, that you aren't interested in regular activity. IT doesn't sound like youa re severely depressed but maybe somewhat. If I were you I would go to a doctor. Many people will tell you a doctor will be able to tell you better than anyone else if you're depressed but YOU are the one that knows how you feel. I think that if you think you are enought to ask online, you are at least midly depressed. Take care of yourself, if you don't you may start spiralling downward. Good luck with everything, things will get better.

Answer 5

It really does sound like it. The best thing to do would be to seek some conselling. They will be able to talk you through your problems and emoions you are feeling. If you need further help they will refer you onto a doctor. Depression is a major thing and can grab us all very quicky. Feelings of emptiness, loneliness and isolation can swamp you and take over, feeling like this can be the beginning of a downward slope. This can be accompanied with tiredness and not wanting to get up and face the world, you may eat more to comfort yourself and loose interest in your surroundings. I am no doctor, if you feel anything like this go and talk to a professional they will be able to isolate what is driving the emotion and work through some of your problems with you. I know I have been there, it worked for me, good luck and take care.

Answer 6

If these events are fairly recent, I would say give it time, you could be going through normal grief processes.

If has been going on for several weeks, with no sign of breaking, then I would see your doctor as it sounds like depression. If it is the latter, you may need a course of anti-depressants to help lighten your mood again, but you'd need to discuss that with a qualified doctor. One tip I would give though is to write down what you're feeling, as if you're anything like me, when depressed it's so easy to lose concentration on what you're doing or saying and the doctor might not get as full a picture of what is going on with you.

Answer 7

There is a hugh difference between being "fed up" and being depressed. Fed up is really just boredom - as soon as something happens to interest you - you forget about it. Depression is different - nothing can take your mind off it. If someone came in and said you`ve won the lottery, you`d still see no future. If you wake in the mornings and have a "heavy feeling" hanging over you - like something bad has happened or something bad is going to happen - but you just can`t put your finger on what it is that`s making you feel this way - and if it`s happening frequently - you are definately depressed. See your gp.

Answer 8

Depression can bring along many different symptoms from feeling tearful to nervous to angry, if symptoms go on for longer than two weeks and the majority of that time you feel tearful etc it is likely you are depressed, go and have a chat with your doctor, dont feel scared to ask for help. Hope things are soon better for you

Answer 9

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/ghealth/mental/articles/0,,181034_614792,00.html

Sounds like you could do with a boost, sweetheart.

Have you got a good friend or two who would love to help you with this. You'd be surprised how many friends don't want to pry and therefore never peak up but come into their own when asked.

Get yourself to a GP, book a double appointment so you have time to talk it through and they aren't trying to rush you out of the door. Write how you have been feeling down so you don't forget to tell them everything. With mental health the GP can't see it and they need as much information from you as possible so they can help you in the best way.

Good luck

Answer 10

It sounds to me like it might not only be depression but anxiety as well.When you have fears about things that have not yet happened thats anxiety.Go to some kind of counseling.Be surrounded by loved ones,play happy upbeat music & sing along even when you don't feel like it.You need to beat this & by beating this you need to do the opposite of what your mind tells you to do so get outdoors go for a walk with a friend you can talk to.Do things you use to like doing.Most of all pray.Prayer changes things.Good luck!