I was recently diagnosed with depression is it possible the doc is wrong?!
Question:
I was recently diagnosed with depression is it possible the doc is wrong?
i don't feel depressed. the only time i feel really sad is when things are going bad in my life. like when we have financial problems or things like that. is there another type of depression or sickness for this? maybe the meds he gave me are already working? he gave me a 2 week starter pack. i just finished the first week but haven't been taking them consistantly. any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Answers:
While I can't say about YOU, I can speak to my own reaction when I was told I had depression. I did not believe the diagnosis. Things in my life were difficult. I was experiencing physical pain, allergy attacks, became easily upset, and felt disoriented having moved to a new city. Sleep was a problem, I was eating next to nothing, and my memory was becoming a growing problem. BUT, there was no way I could believe that I was "depressed", because that was something that only happened to other people -- I thought.
Seeing a counselor helped me to sort out my lack of ability to function in each of the areas, and I learned some new ways to deal with life. But, the counselor still believed I was depressed. I still had difficulty functioning and difficulty with my emotions. Eventually I did see a Dr. who felt I would benefit from an antidepressant medication. You know, he was right. I am able to function better in most areas of my life.
It was explained to me that due to repeated trauma, my brain's actual shape and ability to function was changed. My body no longer makes the chemicals required by my brain to function in a normal manner. And, so, I need to replace those missing chemicals by taking them in pill form to get my brain to work normally. People with diabetes take insulin. There is no problem with replacing what their body does not make.
Why would there be a problem for people who's brain is lacking chemically to artificially replace what they, too, are lacking?
Happy or Sad is a rather simplistic description of defining depression. There simply is so much more to it.