How do you know if you should go to a doctor about feeling depressed?!

to be depressed doesn't mean you have to have had anything bad happen in your life. Depression can be triggered by many things, and if you are depressed then maybe it's just a chemical imbalance....
most teenagers go through a phase where everything feels sh*t and i'm not saying that that applies to you, but it is all part of growing up.

i'm no doctor but having been depressed myself, i know how horrible it is to feel like this. If you go to a doctor, it has to be confidential.... it's part of the legal system for human rights. But you need to get it sorted out. Whether your doctor gives you someone to talk to, or decides you need some medicine then so be it.
A doctor is only going to have your best interests at heart....and if you do need major help like i did, then when it comes to telling your parents, they will be supportive no matter what!

Just seen the bit about depression running in your family.... go to a doctor, and explain everything you've said on here - to him/her. Honestly. the longer you leave it the worse it could get. and you really don't want that - believe me!

good luck :) and i hope you get the right help!

it's confidential , if you can't confine in your parents someone outside of those closest might help, you should book an appointment and be calm and confident about it, tell them as much or little as you want, they have duty of care to help.

Sorry darling but because ur just a minor, you can't really go see a doctor by urself, although u can go see ur school counslar if it has one.

me

Katie, your doctor can and will help confidentially. Don't be afraid to speak to your GP. He will probably ask you stuff and it helps if you can be honest and open. He is unlikely to give you drugs as they don't as easily as in the past. Often the GP will have a few suggestions for you and counselling may be one of them. Samaritans are excellent and can point you in the right direction although they can often help you.There are some excellent books too but that may not suit you. If you have a good and sensible friend then perhaps they could help too. It does help to talk and the fact that you've typed it here suggests that you seriously want and need to improve your situation. People do love you, people do care. Be strong,wonderful and beautiful.Love from Susan

if you dont want to kill yourself it cant be that bad you know when you have depression when you want to kill yourself or self harm this is when you need to see a doctor it does help to talk to people about it i have been told this by my councillor many times as i do actually suffer from mild depression it can often be started from a bad life take myself for example i am 15 i got bullied all the way through primary school i got called fat and ugly (i weighed 7st 14lbs) now i am 8st 1lbs so im still not fat your doctor will just ask you have you ever self harmed or thought about killing your self he/she may prescribe medicine for it (if its prozac refuse it doesnt help)
hope this helps
laura

personal

I believe that most people think about death and some more then others. You are normal. If you go to a Dr., they may want to medicate you right away. Keep in mind that medicine treats the symtoms and not the cause. So, go to your Dr. and have an honest chat and perhaps you just need to see a therapist. I have struggled with bouts of depression and it's no way to live. What works for me is teaching yourself to find things to be grateful for. Start a gratitude journal and re-train your thinking patterns to tell yourself to be happy and find something to be joyful for.
"What we think about, we bring about".... think happy thoughts and don't allow yourself to give into negative thinking. * If a thought makes you feel bad, it's negative.
You need to learn to trust the people that love you and work on talking this stuff out. You may be surprised at how supportive they can be.