Am I suffering from depression?

Question

I'm 13. I have many of the symptoms. It takes me forever to fall asleep at night. I usually don't wake up in the middle of the night, but when I do, I can't go back to sleep. I fidget constantly. I have lost interest in many of my favorite activities. I hate being around my family and participating in family activities. I have trouble concentrating in class. I feel horrible all of the time. It's not like normal sadness, and I can't seem to understand what's causing it. If I am depressed, shouldI get help? Based on the information given if I do have depression, how would you rate it on a scale of 1-10? I've never felt like this before. If not depression, what is it?

I don't want to go to my parents for help. My mom is under a lot of stress since she has type 1 diabetes and has recently been diagnosed with M.S. I don't want to give her any more trouble, and I just don't want to tell my dad.

Answer 1

Yes it sounds like you're depressed. The big question is how long have you felt the symptoms you've described? Many people experience depression in varying degrees throughout their lives. If you think you have a problem, then you most likely do. Your best bet is to talk to a mental health professional and explore all the possibilities, before committing to a treatment. Then once you decide on a course of action stick with it for at least 6 months before reassessing it (it takes awhile for depression meds to start working). You gradually moved to a state of depression, you need to gradually get yourself out. Don't expect miracles in a few short weeks.

Edit: You shouldn't be afraid to involve your parents. I do understand your not wanting to burden your mother anymore, but trust me she would want to help you in any way she could. In fact, she'd probably be more upset if she found out second hand and not from you. I don't know what you should do about your dad ( I have issues with mine). If you have a decent relationship with him then it won't hurt to take a chance and talk to him. BTW it sounds to me like a 7 on your scale of 1-10 but I'd need more details and you may not be comfortable providing them. Is there someone else in your family you could turn to for guidence? It does help!

Answer 2

Meaghan,
I bet you are a mentally strong person. It's really not good to ask people on the Internet to rate your depression.

Let mom, dad or a close relative know your feeling bad on the inside and I know that is very hard. Maybe even a church or school counselor.

Evaluating how you are feeling is better done with an assessment interview. Psychologists, social workers and counselors even have written tests you can take that will help them determine the severity of your depression and who knows it may be anxiety or stress. Growing up isn't always easy.

You write very well and I am attaching some reference sites;

Take care and get help.

Answer 3

It definately sounds like you could be depressed, but the only people who can determine for certain are you and a mental health expert. Definately get help. I suffered all through my teenage years with depression, and didn't see a psychiatrist until I was 20. Once I got put on medication that helped, I realized how much of my life I had missed because I was always locked in my room alone. You don't want to go through life feeling like that, and there is help out there. And don't be ashamed of taking anti-depressants if a doctor feels you need them. They can make a world of difference. Good luck.

Answer 4

Could be a number of things, Stress, hormones or just being a teenager. Try talking to your teacher or your parents and tell them how you feel. Get your mum to take you to the doctors and see what he says. Not good at rating scales when i don't know you as a person. You'll hopefully be OK. You have taken the first step in asking for advice. The rest should be easier.

Answer 5

sounds like you may have some depression and maybe even some ADHD. to make sure you need to go to the doctor and let them know your syptoms. and let them do some simple verbal testing on you. but yes lost interest is a definate sign of depression. and the fidgeting and trouble concentrating is signs of ADHD i have a son that has ADHD and is also bi-polar the 2 can run hand in hand.

Answer 6

on the scale of 1 to 10 you are probably a 9. you definitely need to get help. . what are you depressed about? you are still young and you shouldn't let things bug you. depression is a very serious thing but it can be helped by talking to someone. if you need someone to talk to i can help you out. i am a 16 year old high school student.

Answer 7

Sweetheart, it definitely sounds like you are suffering from some form of Depression, you need to be assessed by a counselor,psychologist, or someone....Since you say you can't go to your parents with your problem, go to your nurse, guidance counselor, principal, or some adult you trust at school. Tell them what's going on and ask them to help you....The sooner you do this the better.
Good Luck !!!

Answer 8

Depression is not anything to play with, please talk to your parents, asking them for help. It could be anything from depression to add/adhd. Only a licensed Dr. such as your family Dr. or a psychiatrist/psychologist can evaluate this to help you. But, the first step is knowing something is not feeling right, the next step is always the hardest and that is asking for help. Go do it for you and your family.

Answer 9

Well it does sound like your depressed. But what you need to do is try to do things that make you feel good about yoursef. And the answer is you don't need to be by yourself and to be lonely. But it would be good to particpate with your family and try to do the activites that make you feel good.