do I have depression?

[lee_2014]

Hi, I was just wondering how do you know if you have depression?  I have thought about killing myself because I' m not afraid of dying isn't the unknown what gets me. Thinking about my family also stop me from doing it because I don't want to hurt them.  But I don't see the point in life and I just want it to end already, and I often think can accident just happen to me so I don't get labelled a cowed. This normal? 

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[dougall]

Hi been there done that so not a good idea.  I have gone through a stage where I have thought I have to wake up tomorrow and do the same thing again and again and no-one is even bothered if they get done.  This is our mind playing tricks of course people will notice and of course you should wake up every morning.  It is what you do with the time in between waking and sleeping that is the important time.  Have you gone to a doctor and been diagnosed with depression as I think this would be a first good step then go from there.  Everyone on here will try and help the best they can.

[lee_2014]

Yeah I just can't really see a future for me at the moment, like am I going to feel like this forever.  I haven't been yet because I feel weird about talking to doctor about my problems when there are bigger things going on in world. and people have been through wost than me so I have no right to complain.  Thank you for your support 

[lee_2014]

Yeah I just can't really see a future for me at the moment, like am I going to feel like this forever.  I haven't been yet because I feel weird about talking to doctor about my problems when there are bigger things going on in world. and people have been through wost than me so I have no right to complain.  Thank you for your support 

[dougall]

Hi there is nothing bigger going on than you.  Yes there is people with physical pain and injuries, you are just as important.  You have every right to complain and feel free sometimes it helps with the frustration we feel because we don't love ourselves.

[Christie787]

Hi!

There's no real right or wrong way to "DO" depression. What we need to understand (which i know can be very difficult to) is that we don't HAVE depression, it's just something thats there and can be very difficult to deal with. The thoughts your having are very normal, but as uncomfortable as it can be seeing your GP or a psychologist would be the best thing for you to do. Xx

[dougall]

Hi lee how are you doing today?

[geoff]

dear Lee, all posts that are sent in to this site are always taken on board so we  take them all as being very serious, and yours is no different, especially when taking your own life is involved.

Sure we often think that there are other people worse off, maybe or maybe not, but that's not the point because when we feel that our life is not worth living then we have to concentrate as you being the worst.

From what you have said you do have depression, and there can be a common feeling amongst the community that by taking your life 'it's the cowards way out', how wrong and uneducated these people are, because they have no idea what happens to someone when they are depressed.

It's not a good idea to keep all what is troubling you to yourself, you can but it will only get worse so the problems will become surmountable, and you have to realise that a great deal of patients who see their doctor have depression, so it's nothing new for you to go and see them.

What their aim is is to find out whether or not you have depression and that they are not particularly interested in your story ( unless you have known them for years ) but more so want to see whether the antidepressants are working or if you have issues with them, it's the psychologist who wants to know how you are feeling, and they are trained for this.

I hope that you can get back to us. Geoff.

[lee_2014]

Thank you all for your support. I still haven't made a appointment to see my Gp. The thing that is keeping me from doing so is fear of being told I have depression and having to go on medication. Because I'm a very private person, I don't want my family to think any different of me or to take pity on me.

[HA1]

Hi Lee

Taking that first step to see a GP and then maybe a psych can be very difficult, but it is necessary.  From my own experience, the sooner you confirm whether you suffer from depression (or any other mental illness), the sooner you can get on the road of acceptance.  Acceptance of my illness has helped me.  It has helped me to overcome the horrible stigma that is associated with mental illness, and so prevalent in society.  Acceptance has also supported my learning and understanding of the illness.  

And, I am also a very private and introverted person  who suffers from social anxiety.  So talking and sharing with anybody was difficult.  But it is necessary.

Go and make the appointment with the GP as a first step towards your recovery.  And recover you will.

Take care

K