Am i depressed at 13?

Question

i feel like my world is falling away. im 14 next year and im scared i wont make it to my 15th birthday. i cant think of any major reason i feel like this, i just know that everything is getting too much for me. I need a way out. I cant think what to do; i cant tell my family, no matter what anyone says (i think they dont like me much so i wouldnt dare tell them) and i cant tell my friends as they wouldnt understand. I dont trust anybody else enough to tell them how i feel. What scares me most is that at night, i lay in bed and just dream of ways of ending it all, and it feels good. No one knows anything is wrong 'cause i cover it up and smile everyday, but inside, i feel so bad all the time, and the feeling doesnt go away. I dont trust myself enough to be alone, yet i prefer to be alone than with family. I dont know if it's possible to be depressed at 13. Does anyone have any suggestions of what i can do to cope? Thanks

thanks for all your comments so far.

i know most people who read this might think im way too young to feel like this, and maybe they're right, but all i can say is i have felt like this for over a year and everyday it gets stronger, whichs really scares me. this'll sound weird, but it's not that i want to die, it's just i kinda have to. it's hard to explain. I really cant tell anyone, seriously. it's not that im scared to, it's coz i already tried and it all made me feel 10 times worse, plus no one believed me and no one did anything to hepl me. so im not looking for help, coz i know no one can help me, just maybe suggestions or something to make me cope better with this. thanks again.

hi, you're all really kind to comment and i think i now know what's wrong with me. thanks everyone.

Answer 1

I was put on anti-depressants at 13. I was exactly the same - there was no reason for me to be like that, everything in my life was fine.
The worst thing you can do is to keep it to yourself, and i know its hard to talk to people about how you feel and its so much easier to put on a smile. But you MUST talk to someone .... its good to talk.
You can add me and we will talk if you want.
Good luck and take care!!

Answer 2

When I fell ill with depression a few years ago, I found it helpful just to give the way I was feeling a name. At least that was a starting point for getting help. Depression symptoms include:-

Fatigue and sleep disorder
Lack of motivation
Poor concentration
Forgetfulness
Appetite disorder and weight fluctuation
Feelings of inadequacy
Loss of vitality
Minor ailments
Irrational fear
Confusion
Intolerance
Self-hatred
Self harm
Suicidal thoughts

If you can identify with four or more of the above, then you may have depression. The list is taken from a book I bought, which i found quite useful. It can be bought on line. If you are remotely depressed, make sure you eat healthily and take moderate exercise (walks etc). Otherwise you may slip downhill. Needless to say, it's always best to see your doctor. By the way, have you thought of phoning Childine 0800 1111? You'll be able to speak to someone who really understands. I wish you all the best.

Answer 3

Yes you can be depressed at age 13. Has this feeling of sadness persisted for over two weeks if so you could be depressed. If you can't think of any reasons why your depressed it could be a chemical imbalance or your hormones are out of wack. You need to tell your parents exactly how you are feeling. If not tell someone you really trust and can confide in. Ending your life is not the answer. It's normal to want to isolate yourself when you are depressed. You need to stop covering up your sadness in front of everybody and show them how you really feel. Depression hurts every part of the body and does not go away on it's own. Start by telling your parents or talk to a school counselor. There is help for the way you are feeling. Good luck.

Answer 4

Hi
I know you do not want to talk to your family and I totally understand that, especially when you are still so young. I was also depressed from a young age and didn't feel I could speak to anyone about it, mainly I think because I didn't actually know what was wrong with me. You say you don't want to tell your family because you think they don't like you. I don't know your situation but is it possible that you think this because of your depression?

OK, if you really do feel you can't tell a family member or close friend. Is there any teacher you could see yourself ever thinking about telling? A school nurse, counsellor or Dr is also a good person to think about telling. It is terrifying to tell people about this I know but it really isn't something you should deal with by yourself, especially when you are having suicidal thoughts on a nightly basis.

It is also worth looking for helplines you could call. Some of the services that offer a helpline also offer support and advice over the Internet too, most commonly via email. This is defiantly something worth looking into.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

Without God's love, you will always crave more and more and never be content.

Without a friend that gives you an honest answer when you want one, who gives you one out of love, you will always feel some misery. And if you only have friends that flatter you, you may be depressed knowing that they are doing so because they want to take advantage of you in some way rather than truly loving you, or loving you with a pure love, love which isn't self-seeking.

Also, you may have a poor diet which is causing a chemical imbalance or making you depressed due to its blandness, have past trauma that is still bothering you because you don't know how to deal with it or because it was very painful, are encountering unpleasant smells often (like perhaps from a new rug which smells bad), have bland surroundings (you may want to decorate your walls with posters), have unpleasant parents, don't have friends or ones that give you bad to no advice when you ask for the help or when it's obvious you need it, you may have a boring getting-no-where life, or you may feel as if you're not getting your way in general (which frustrates everyone who feels that way).

I had problems with depression and suicide when I was 12 due to my parents abusing me, neglecting my education (including knowledge about right from wrong), and not providing me with much interesting or helpful to do or teaching me how to be helpful. I also got bullied at school for how I was dressed and appeared before I was 14, and of course, instead of the bullies being punished for what they did to me, I was the one who got stuck in a miserable substitute for a "normal" public high school and had next to no friends while there (and still have about none). Soon after attending that school I was bullied by the police off an on a few times. Other miserable things happened including being repeatedly kicked out and being mistreated at nearly all the jobs I had by coworkers or bosses who harassed me out of them. But, God saved me and helped me beat my depression and allowed and helped me to accomplish some great things that I can take comfort in having accomplished no matter how miserable. I'm still depressed sometimes, but it's not as bad now since he's opened my eyes.

Check out the link in my profile if you are interested in spiritual help, which I found has been a lasting and permanent solution heading towards perfect peace. I hope you show the link to others.

Answer 6

Start with trusting your family, that will make you feel protect again, and try to do something different in your daily routine, make some exercise, read a book on a favorite subject that you want to learn something, go have a walk, do something for you, take a nice bath, move the furniture of your bedroom, give away clothes that you don't use, be a volunteer in something, etc etc etc.....

Be happy to be
ALIVE
HEALTHY
WITH A FAMILY
WITH FRIENDS
WITH F E E L I N G S

Let the depression be a past in your life not a life path, is ok sometimes to feel like that but not ALWAYS.

Be happy :)

Answer 7

Hello
I am so sorry that you feel this way. I do understand as I felt very similar at your age for various reasons. As you have already tried to harm yourself before then you know that this is not the answer to help you feel better, only worse. Do you have any hobbies or music that makes you feel happy? There are people out there that can listen to you, Childline (call 0800 1111 for free) and the Samaritans (who charge for the call but you can email: [e-mail] and you will not have to give your identity to them so it will be strictly private. To check these out just search yahoo for Childline and Samaritans and it will show you what they can do to help. Meanwhile if you wish to contact me again through Ask then please get back to me to chat if it will help.
Do not give up, although you think your life is awful there is a future ahead if you get help and stay strong.
God Bless you
Wendie P

Answer 8

I think you should talk to someone you trust, a close friend, a family member like an aunt, or maybe even a teacher you like. You need to let out these feelings, so you should probably see your GP. He/she won't tell your parents anything if you don't want them to know what's going on, but I really think you ougth to tell them. Meanwhile, spend more time with people instead of being alone. It doesn't have to be your family, you could hang out with some friends or join a club or 2. See what's going in your area and your school.

Good luck with everything!

Answer 9

I have shared this message with my wife. We want you to know that we care very much about what happens to you. Since you're not sure why you feel the way you do, it could be just that your body is changing and hormones are chemically affecting your feelings as well as physical changes. It's a hard time, but everybody has to go through it. You seem to be having a more difficult time of it than most. If you don't feel that you can share what you're going through with your family, would you consider a school councilor or your clergyman, it's their job to help people get over hard times. I'm sure your parents do love you a lot, give them a chance to show it.
My wife and I will keep you in our prayers in the meantime and please feel free to e-mail us if you want to just talk. We would not judge you. Please don't do anything rash before seeking help.

Answer 10

I went through all of that too. Is it depression? I can't judge just by what you wrote, and I'm not sure if what I went through was strictly depression, but I know it's not nice.

Many people, who may or may not have went through the same thing might tell you to speak to someone or take up hobby, but I know it isn't that easy. I know I certainly had nobody to talk to. I also shared the feeling of reaching mortality.

Unfortunately though, although I went through the same thing, I don't really have any advice for you.

One thing I will say though, is that it gets better. Well, actually, it becomes wonderful. Absolutely fantastic. I'm glad I didn't have the guts to actually end it all back when I wanted to.

Everytime my dad told me; "Your school days are the best days of your life!", I wanted to throw myself off a nice big cliff.
He was wrong though. Those days were horrible. These days are grand.