Am I depressed? What should I do about these things?

A little bit about me: i'm 18, male, starting college, love music, guitar, and video games. Lately I've been wondering if im depressed which is a stupid question - im 99% sure im depressed, but I want to see what others think and their advice on what I should do. I'll just make a list and tell you everything wrong about me or what I want to change. After starting college and being able to "start new" I've been thinking about a lot of these things. I know that my "symptoms and problems" don't seem as serious as a lot of other topics by people I've been reading... but all this stuff added up has gotten me pretty down for the past couple weeks/months.

- I have zero self-confidence.
- Don't have any self-esteem either.
- I am extremely pessimistic and I over-think every single thing way way too much. - this makes me a horrible decision maker as well.
- Even though I love playing the guitar, it feels like such a chore to actually go and pick it up - however when I do pick it up (rarely 1-2 times a week when I SHOULD be playing everyday) I don't put it down for a long time.
- I started college this week and the stress is starting to get to me. I already feel like im really far behind and I cant focus on the work either... and its been what, like 1 day??
- im pretty positive i have some sort of social anxiety disorder - im normal with my friends but im really terrible at and hate public speaking, icebreaker-type things, etc. and its really really hard to make new friends and "put myself out there."
- im also pretty sure that i have something along the lines of a disease called "globus hystericus" which is another type of anxiety disorder - I've had this probably since I was 12 years old, but never researched it until recently; it didn't help that multiple doctors and therapist said there was nothing wrong with me.
- I keep stressing about trying to impress girls and whatnot. I've never had a girlfriend and I have a mindset that my life is just empty without one and that getting one will get rid of every single problem I have in life.
- Being addicted to video games is also a really big thing for me. For the past 8 years, I was/am an addictive gamer and its pretty much ruined my life. I'd play 5-10 hours a day minimum, and im guessing thats where my problems of social anxiety disorder, and having no self-confidence/esteem started up because I never did anything all throughout middle and high school except sit at home and play games all day which probably affected how I am today.

What can I do to change these things? I think the majority of all my problems is about my mind and my way of thinking. Would CBT, medicine or something else be best for me? Am I really depressed or am I just overreacting?

Hi there,

Welcome to the HealingWell Depression forum. I think Che has given you some very good advice. School counselors is a good way to go, but if you have a family doctor that you could see that is even better. Let's get this under control so that you can focus on school. The sooner the better. Take care.

Hugs, Karen

CBT therapy is called Cognative Behavioral Therapy.  Basically it teaches you a different way to look at life.  And it is very helpful.  There is a book called "the new mood therapy" or "Feeling Good". by a Doctor David Burns.  It is an older book, but it is a good one.  I learned a lot from in back in the 80's and I think it would help you too.  But go to the therapy and see what they have to offer.  You will learn to look at life with a different perspective and you will be much more happy.  I highly recommend it.  And don't forget the book.  That would be a great learning tool.  You can get them  for around 8.00 on line.

Hugs, Karen