Depression vs Sadness. How do you tell?!
Question: How can you tell if you're experiencing normal sadness versus depression that would be helped with medication? I am not sad all the time, but when I think about my life situations I get very sad. I am trying to so hard in life, but feel I won't make it anywhere. Would medication help this situation? Is depression diagnosed when someone is ALWAYS sad/apathetic etc.?
Answers: How can you tell if you're experiencing normal sadness versus depression that would be helped with medication? I am not sad all the time, but when I think about my life situations I get very sad. I am trying to so hard in life, but feel I won't make it anywhere. Would medication help this situation? Is depression diagnosed when someone is ALWAYS sad/apathetic etc.?
When I am depressed it is a very different feeling than sad. When I am sad I just feel down, but a drink at the bar or dinner out with friends will make me smile. When I am depressed that doesn't happen.
Some of my depression symptoms
- Pain - Generalized. Not easy to describe.
- "Neediness" - I don't know what I need, but I just need it.
- Inability to concentrate
- Sleepiness and fatigue - Do not even want to get out of bed
- I cease to care about anything I used to before. Like my job, hobbies and maintaing my appearance.
- Hopelessness
- Always thinking about committing suicide
If you have depression you will know it. It is not a question of sadness, it is very easy to realize it is a feeling unlike any others.
I think that you might have a slight case of depression.
It sounds like when you are doing something good, you then think of the bad things that are going on.
You get really sad when you think of everything.
It's okay:]
Try to go to a therapist or a counsler.
lOVE lYDIA
no, but you must see a doc.
Depression is a pervasive feeling of blues that has an effect on your physical health and daily patterns. It changes your sleep patterns, eating patterns, body weight and general outlook. See a mental health professional or go to a clinic. There are easy scales that can determine your level of depression if any.
depression doesnt go away
you can talk with your doctor about your situation and he can determine if you need medication. he is the only person you should really listen to in your situation. even if he thinks that medication is not appropriate for you, at least you've addressed your problem and he can point you in the right direction in terms of wether you should get therapy or not. If you're at the point that you are questioning if you have depression or not, that is the point to seek help. there are soo many people that suffer from depression that go undiagnosed. never hurts to ask for the happy pills.
Clinical Depression is when it's affecting your life to a point where you can no longer control the sadness and symptoms of it range the following:
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Loss of appetite and/or weight loss, or conversely overeating and weight gain
* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* Restlessness or irritability
* Feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, helplessness
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
* Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down" or sluggish
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Please see this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_de...
For a better understanding. Only when you are given medication by a doctor will it help, it may take a bit to find the right one but medication does really help when needed. I'd advise you to see a doctor/Psychiatrist to help sort out what your going through. Also there are many great books free at the library that might be of help.
Is this something you struggle with all year long or mostly in the winter? True depression last for 6 months and longer. Can you describe what you're calling "sad" is it just a down feeling the blues or is it more and if so describe that.
See a therapist and talk about your options and please be very care full about starting meds, although they can be very helpful for severely depressed people they can have side effects, and not just the physical kind. I know someone who was on Prozac for 12 years and after coming off it was AMAZED to FEEL a hug from her child. She reported that she had always just waited for the hug to be done while on medication and now does not want them to end!
If your sadness or depression does NOT go away by itself in a month, then you may need some meds. That is the main critiera for telling a doctor is it is normal sadness or real depression.