How Do You Tell if You Are Depressed?

[TheRadicalAnxiousLefty]

Hi everybody,

I am wondering how to determine if you are depressed, I mean, like no bull**** ways of finding out?

I think I am, and want to tell my physician. Yet he thinks I have ADHD, for which I am prescribed Ritalin. I don't want to deny that I have scattered thoughts. But I think the problem runs deeper than that.

Thoughts?

 

[nicole1]

Go to psychcentral. They have quizzes.

 

[dragonoth]

What makes you think you could be depressed?

 

[PhillyFlyersGrl]

Lets see, when I was depressed..I stopped going out as much as I used too, stopped making friends, stopped taking care of myself, sleeping more, stopped going to school which I eventually got kicked out for. Basically you and your life come to a halt, because you dont enjoy activities that you used too because it feels like you can't. Depression, more then a sad feeling, is like a lack of feeling. Its like a void/emptiness. "Id rather feel then not feel at all" you've probably heard that expression. With depression your feelings are dried up.

 

[Silatuyok]

I think it varies from person to person, to a certain extent. I can tell by the pit in my stomach that comes to me whenever my mind happens to wander throughout the day. Oh, and dreading getting out of bed in the morning is a big one for me.

 

[Beatrice]

The symptoms can vary from person to person, and the degree of depression can vary.

Speaking for myself, I have suffered both mild and moderate depression, and even a few times some that I believe would qualify for the "severe" category. During all of these, there was definitely an empty feeling, and a lot of anxiety. Sometimes I would have a sense of dread for no reason at all. Lack of energy is a big one. Increased appetite or no appetite (I had the former, lucky me, heh). Suicidal thoughts, obviously..... that's pretty much a given. If you're moderately to severely depressed suicidal thoughts tend to be a constant companion.

Losing interest in hobbies, friends, family, entertainment, etc.

All of these can be found online though, at places like Webmd, so there's really no point in me posting this

Obviously I'm not a professional, so this is just what I've read and experienced.

 

[JamesSmith]

I think if you are wondering if you are depressed, you usually are depressed. Someone who isn't depressed is too busy enjoying life to care whether they are depressed or not.

I've been depressed for most of my life. My life has been spent trying to find things to do to avoid thinking about how depressed I am, and I also search for things I enjoy to do so I can focus on something else besides depression.

I believe depression comes with an anxiety disorder automatically. I can't imagine someone who has an anxiety disorder and is never depressed.

My depression is mild, I guess, just because I don't think about it often. It does bother me occasionally in spurts, though. My situation is dangerous as it is (no friends or g/f). To avoid all depression with my life would be impossible unless I started connecting with people consistently. The problem is hate being around people.