How do you know if you are depressed?

KOUKLA

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2006

Posts : 64

Posted 9/19/2006 1:24 PM (GMT 0)

I have been feeling down for a while now. I havent gone out for coffee or drinks or simple activities like bowling or the movies in a few months. I dont feel like leaving the house on weekends and the only reason I do so during the week is for work. I dont know what triggered this feeling of apathy but its been around a while. I dont know what is wrong. Like if someone wer eto ask me what is bothering me I dont know how to put it into one thing. I feel like its everything from my wieght, to my job, to the fact that I cant seem to pass my CPA exam (which i cant because i cant concentrate when i study - my mind keeps floating off). I have no motivation to do anything. Any suggestions? Any good books I can read to get myself out of this slump? Anything would help.

Thanks!

Elegy

Regular Member

Joined : Aug 2006

Posts : 31

Posted 9/19/2006 1:54 PM (GMT 0)

Welcome to Healing Well, Koukla!

In response to your question -- how does one know if one is depressed -- well, darlin', it's different for everybody. I, myself, noticed that the "bluesy" feeling I'd been having seemed to last for weeks...for no reason, really, and with lots of different effects. Like you, I had no motivation (just getting out of bed seemed like a battle!), I felt generally apathetic (although there'd be times when I'd start sobbing out of nowhere), and I just didn't feel like going out or being with my friends. The hopelessness got so bad I decided it was time to help myself...and so I made an appointment with a psychologist. Since then, I've seen her twice, I've been to a psychiatrist for medication, and now I'm signed up with a campus therapist -- woo hoo for college -- whom I see once a week.

As for suggestions, I'm an advocate for making an appointment with a psychologist or a counselor. They really helped me to understand what my feelings were, and they opened up avenues of treatment I wouldn't have had access to before. If you don't want to take that step, you could talk to someone you trust -- a friend, a family member, etc. -- and let them know how you're feeling and that you're looking for suggestions.

Oh, and I just finished a wonderful book called "Overcoming Depression" by Paul Gilbert...so maybe you could look it up :)

Keep in touch and let us know how things turn out...we're here to support and encourage you!

els

Veteran Member

Joined : Oct 2005

Posts : 4033

Posted 9/19/2006 2:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Ya Koukla, Welcome to the depression board, we are happy to have you join us here. Elegy is completely correct in that depression presents differently in everyone so it is difficult to say exactly if what you’re going through is depression. It certainly does sound as if you may be going though some situational depressive symptoms. I also endorse going to see a therapist and or psychiatrist who can diagnose and or prescribe medications to help you through this period in your life. Wither it is with simple talk therapy or a short term prescription of antidepressants. You didn’t mention having depression before so it could very well be a situational depression which is usually temporary with treatment. Also you may want to go to your primary care physician and have a physical done to ensure that you don’t have any thing medical going on either. There are multiple medical problems that can cause the symptoms that you’re explaining. Please do let us know how it goes...Take care

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