how do you know if you have depression?
960823
Usually, when pediatric psychologists (the people who talk to you and give you non-medical treatments) and pediatric psychiatrists (the people who can prescribe medicine for you) diagnose depression, they ask you questions about how you're feeling, how long you've been feeling this way, how intense is it, if you feel like hurting yourself or other people and other questions and follow a sort of checklist of symptoms that depressed people have. They follow a guide outlined in a handbook called the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders) that is published by the American Psychiatric Association. If you've been feeling really sad and also have physical symptoms like tiredness, achiness, too much or too little eating and/or sleeping, definitely go see a doctor and make sure he checks to see if there is nothing wrong with your body. If that's ok, ask him to refer you to a pediatric psychologist or a pediatric psychiatrist who can treat you for depression. There could be something wrong with, for example, any number of hormones or you could have some other physical thing wrong with you. Depression and illnesses that have symptoms that are similar to those in depression are fairly common amongst teenagers.  Remember your body and mind are connected and your behavior and your "state of mind" are strongly interconnected. Do the things that make you happy and change your behaviors so that you'll feel better about yourself. It's no accident that we kind of walk around all tired and slumped when we're sad and walk with our chin up and a little hop in our step when we're happy.  Walking with your chin up will help. Give yourself a treat or do something you like that makes you feel good and relaxed when you perform actions that are good for you like completing and doing well in school tasks and homeworks or exams.  For example, if you go to school for a week, without skipping and complete all your homeworks, at the end of the week treat yourself.  Do that for a few weeks, then extend it to two straight weeks, then three and so on.  Give yourself a little snack for every two - three genuine hours that you study for an exam. Tell yourself that you WILL ace the exam and when you do, give yourself a real treat like a manicure or something else that oyu like.  Also, get into activities like sports or a gym that help work up a sweat, and pick up hobbies that help relax you like musical instruments or yoga or reading. If you need to work with a professional, also get the cognitive (the thinking part) and behavioral (the doing or acting part) therapy and help. There's tons of information out there on depression, and medical sites like WebMD, the American Psychiatric Association (psych.org) the American Psychological Association (apa.org) and government websites (like the NIH or NIMH sites) are good sources. Make sure you keep yourself well informed as everyone has an opinion about these things and there are people out there that will tell you things like depression doesn't exist or you should just snap out of it and grow up, or things like that that only make things worse.  The only ones that count are you doctor's, your parents' or a trusted adults' and your own. I hope you feel better :-)
233637
You need to sit down and make a list of all the feelings and emotions that you are having and what you think is bringing them on. Then take your list go over it with your parents a friend a doctor councilor. Depression can be an illness. Some times it is simply having the blues. But it is a good idea for you to seek the help of someone you TRUST then it is to go on untreated or noticed.  \nThis is a great website. One that I send a lot of my female clients to that are your age. Has a lot of good info and resources\nhttp://www.girlshealth.gov/\nJust remember that you are loved and cared for by so many.
657843
Symptoms\n\nIf you have depression, you may feel hopeless and sad or stop feeling pleasure from almost everything you do. You may feel “down in the dumps,” tearful, or discouraged. You may also be irritable or anxious or have low energy levels. The symptoms of depression are often subtle at first. It can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that you might have depression.\n\nThe two most significant symptoms of depression are: 3 \n\nSadness or hopelessness. \nLoss of interest in or pleasure from most daily activities. \nOther symptoms include:\n\nLosing or gaining weight because of changes in appetite. \nSleeping too much or not enough. \nFeeling restless and unable to sit still, or feeling that moving takes a great effort. \nFeeling tired all the time. \nFeeling unworthy or guilty without an obvious reason. \nHaving problems concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. \nThinking often about death or suicide. \nIf you have at least five of these symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, and one of the symptoms is either sadness or loss of interest, you are diagnosed with major depression. But, if you have fewer than five symptoms, you may still be depressed and need treatment. \n\nIf you have 2 to 4 symptoms for a period of at least 2 years (1 year for a child), you may have a long–term form of depression called dysthymic disorder (dysthymia). \n\nMany women experience mood changes before menstruation. Physical and emotional premenstrual symptoms that interfere with relationships or responsibilities are known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, women who have emotional and physical premenstrual symptoms that seriously interfere with daily life may have a type of depression known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). For more information see the topic Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).\n\nMany health professionals see people with general symptoms that may be difficult to link to depression. These symptoms, which commonly occur with depression, include:\n\nHaving headaches and other body aches and pains. \nHaving digestive problems, including constipation or diarrhea. \nLosing interest in sex or being unable to perform sexually. \nFeeling anxious or worried without an obvious reason. \nBlaming yourself or others for your depression. \nNot moving or talking for hours. \nOther symptoms of depression may include: 4, 3 \n\nOvereating and weight gain (rather than loss of appetite). \nOversleeping (rather than insomnia). \nIncreased tearfulness, anger, and generally not feeling well, along with anxiety and tension. \nSometimes, a feeling of heaviness in the arms and legs. \nSensitivity to rejection. \nDepression is a serious problem for people of any age, and older adults with symptoms of depression should seek treatment right away. Depression in older adults can cause confusion or forgetfulness (although some medications can cause these symptoms as well). Depression has also been identified as a significant risk factor for death in older adults with heart problems. 5 \n\nIt is important to recognize the early warning signs of depression so that you can get treatment. If you think you may have depression, take a short quiz to evaluate your symptoms:\n\nInteractive Tool: Are You Depressed? \nThe symptoms of depression are often subtle at first. It can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that you might have depression. Symptoms of depression in children and teens are sometimes different than adult symptoms, which can make it more difficult to diagnose and treat. For more information, see the topic Depression in Childhood and Adolescence.\n\nDepression can lead to suicide. The warning signs of suicide change with age.\n\nWarning signs of suicide in children and teens may include preoccupation with death or suicide or a recent breakup of a relationship. \nWarning signs of suicide in adults may include alcohol or substance abuse, recent job loss, or divorce. \nWarning signs of suicide in older ad
780204
Yes, your symptoms have all the makings of endogenous depression, which comes on you like a thief in the night.\n\nGo to your doctor for a professional diagnosis so you can get the treatment your need, and don't be afraid of any of the therapy or medications if they help you in the long run.\n\nThe kind of depression you seem to have symptoms of usually doesn't seem to have any obvious cause and so can go on undetected for months or even years making your life sad and purposeless for no apparent reason.\n\nEspecially if you have a parent or other close family members with depression or mental illness of any kind, you most likely have inherited this depression, which would explain why you feel this way even though nothing is going wrong in your life.
65153
no definintly not where did you hear that lol depression is all related to your mind and what triggers off certain things on how you feel and think and how you react to it either by getting on wit life or crying about it, sorry if i sound harsh.
934984
maybe your deprest? i would see the doctor
786145
The signs and symptoms of clinical depression are:\n\nPersistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood \nChanges in sleep patterns \nReduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain \nLoss of pleasure and interest in once-enjoyable activities, including sex \nRestlessness, irritability \nPersistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as chronic pain or digestive disorders \nDifficulty concentrating at work or at school, or difficulty remembering things or making decisions \nFatigue or loss of energy \nFeeling guilty, hopeless or worthless \nThoughts of suicide or death \nIf you experience five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, you could have clinical depression. See a doctor or qualified mental health professional for help, right away.
1097119
Yes.\n\nSometimes your brain may send chemical signals that cause a feeling of depression.   Sometimes this is affected by environment or diet.  If the symtoms last longer than two months, see a doctor.
993349
Depression is more than just the normal, temporary feelings of sadness and hopelessness associated with difficult life events. The symptoms of depression are often subtle at first. It can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that you might have depression. Common symptoms include:\n\nDepressed mood. \nInability to enjoy activities. \nProblems concentrating. \nChanges in eating habits or appetite. \nWeight gain or weight loss. \nChanges in sleeping habits. \nDifficulty going to work or taking care of your daily responsibilities because of a lack of energy. \nFeelings of guilt and hopelessness; wondering if life is worth living (common). \nSlowed thoughts and speech. \nPreoccupation with thoughts of death or suicide. \nComplaints that have no physical cause (somatic complaints) such as headache and stomachache. \nAll of these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life. Even if you don't have major depression, if you have experienced a few of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks you may have a less severe form of depression that still requires treatment.\n\nHow is it treated?\n\nDepression is usually treated successfully with professional counseling, antidepressant medication, or a combination of the two. Often a combination of the two is most effective. People with depression usually can be treated as outpatients, but in severe cases a period of hospitalization may be necessary.\n\nIf you have mild or moderate depression, you may be diagnosed and treated by your family health professional and a therapist or psychologist. If you have severe depression or other psychological disorders or do not respond to treatment, a psychiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems, may be helpful.\n\nLet your health professional know if you suspect that you have depression, because it is often overlooked. If you are diagnosed with depression, you and your health professional can decide on the best treatment. The earlier you are treated, the more quickly you will recover. 1
551621
Depression can be caused by your diet.Go see a Doctor and they can figure it out but you should try to help by noticing when you become most depressed
62265
clinical depression is a diagnosable condition that should be regarded very seriously and be treated promptly by a health professional. Being depressed on the other hand can be serious or it may be a symptom of some other disorder of mood, health or substance use. When in doubt see a doc.
124357
according to the National Institute for Mental Health, symptoms of depression include: \n-an "empty" feeling, ongoing sadness and anxiety.\n-fatigue, lack of energy\n-sleep problems, including difficulty getting to sleep, sleeping too much, wakin  up too early\n-eating more or less than you do usually\n-crying too much or too often\n-aches and pains that don't go away when treated\n-a hard time focusing, remembering or making decisions\n-feeling hopeless, guilty, helpless, worthless\n-irritability\n-thoughts of suicide or death, attempting suicide\nDON'T IGNORE THESE WARNING SIGNS; SEEK HELP
828275
it may be................\n\nbut the surest sign is unstable mood\neasy fatiguability\nsleep disorders\nloss of appetit OR eating morethan normal\n\n\ntry to see a doctor OR BEST try to go away of the depression cause......\n\nwish u a good mental health
1063559
i think its true. to me, depression is causing it. i dont eat well, always sleepy, tired and no drive to do anything. im still dealing with it. one avise, get to the root of the problem, stay healthy.
677761
Depression is very common with everyone at one time or another.  It is a symptom of every mental illness.  You should get involved in doing things that will get your mind off of what is bothering you.  If talking about it makes you more bored or depressed...Don't talk about it.
708856
Pms? or you're experiencing depression, talk to a doctor.
1160309
It's easy to tell when a friend or person is i depression, get for the signs:\n\n-Sad look on face\n-Sluggish\n-Once active, now lazy\n-Doesn't work as much\n-Confussion\n-Appears to have lost emotions, apathy\n-Avoids others\n-Avoids social situations\n-confusion\n-Foggy mind\n-Tired\n-Lays around\n-Doesn't enjoy activities anymore\n-Mood change, high to low (Bipolar)\n-lack of energy\n-Doesn't remember well\n-Doesn't care\n-No motivation\n-Glassy eyes\n-Bad memory\n\nHave you talked to them about this?