Am I just being overly dramatic or am I depressed?

[feelsbadman]

Hi,

I don't know if I'm actually depressed or I'm just going through the regular teenage angst. I've been feeling very down lately for the past few months, I've been getting less willing to go to school or get out of bed lately. I would beg my parents to let me stay home from school as I'd dread every single moment at school. I'm not a loner by any means, and I do feel like I'm actually happy when I'm with my friends but that disappears as soon as I get home and am alone.

I've been more irritated than usual at my friends at school, but I try my best to hide it from my friends as I fear that they'll come to hate me or start talking about me behind my back. I just get angry more easily even if it's over petty things. I can't seem to care anymore about school, I still study but that's just cause I have to.

Psychology used to be my favourite subject but I can't feel motivated about it anymore. I hate that I'm feeling like this but whenever I think of this I just start getting even more irritated or sad. Nothing makes me feel like its worth giving my time or effort to anymore, so I just not do anything. I'm tired all the time, I just want to stop doing anything and sleep.

Am I being overly dramatic and is this just a phase? Because I've done the beyond blue test and it says I'm included in the High range for depression but I don't believe it as I think I'm being overly dramatic? I tried telling my parents but they don't think anything is wrong with me and that this is just a phase. I'm lost right now. The more I think of the possibility of me being depressed the more I want to believe I'm not? If that makes any sense. It makes me feel even worse as I always feel like I'm over exaggerating everything.

Am I depressed? What do I do?

[geoff]

hello, and although we aren't qualified to give you an answer, we can suggest from our own experiences what we think, just as I would do with a friend or brother/sister, but even in your first paragraph it's heading towards that way of being depressed, and you may feel happy amongst your friends, but you have to determine whether this is actually being happy or it could be pretending to be happy, that's why you break down when you get home.
What you have said 'the possibility of me being depressed the more I want to believe I'm not' is because you're in denial, refusing to believe that you may well be depressed.
Don't blame your parents that could be a natural response by them, and remember no one wants to accept the fact that one of their family is suffering from depression, but none of us ever know why we get this illness, so please suggest to your parents to go and see your doctor, this is important, because you can't keep struggling the way you are now. Geoff.

[solabear]

Hi there and welcome. Good on you posting and seeking help, but I would take it further by talking to the school counsellor or psychologist and express my concern. And you should mention the outcome of the Beyond blue test as well.

I hope you feel better soon and remember ...you can always talk to us if you need to talk. we are here to be your friend and listen.

Take care xx

[Croix]

Dear Feelsbadman~

It's very sensible to seek advice, and so coming here is a pretty resourceful and intelligent thing to do. I can understand the confusion you are feeling and the fact that your life is in a very unhappy place.

The things you are talking about seem to be more than normal teenage woes, and it would be silly to keep on wondering and doing nothing, perhaps leaving something important untreated.

As Geoff mentioned we are not doctors and can't really say what is wrong, though we can have suspicions based upon what has happened to us.

If I were in your shoes I would be properly tested to see if you had depression, anxiety or some other illness. The first step in doing so is to see a doctor. Your parents can take you, a school councilor can recommend it, you can visit the place for young people called Headspace. All are avenues for certainty, and if your diagnosis is positive then the start of treatment and feeling better.

Most parents when they know how serious things have become will want to see their children get proper help, so like Goeff, I'd say approaching them would be a good starting point. Giving your test results and saying in detail how you feel may be enough.

If they don't agree, then as Solabear says a school councilor would be a good one to talk to, and as I said, Headspace may have an office in your area.

We are concerned for you and think it would be good if you posted again and said what you thought

Croix

[White_Rose]

Hello Feelsbadman

Like the other three people I think this is more than teenage angst. And if this is all that it is then you have not lost anything by finding out. Your parents are the best people to take you to see your GP and get a professional diagnosis. Take a copy of the K10 test and your first post. It's helpful for the doctor to see why you have made an appointment. By the way, make it a long appointment.

School counsellor is the next step if your parents do not want you to see your GP. Again, take a copy of K10 etc.

Croix has mentioned Headspace which is an organisation for young people and deals with depression etc. Another group to consult is the kids helpline. www.kidshelpline.com.au Phone 1800 55 1800 available 24/7. Contact details for Headspace www.headspace.org.au Phone 1800 650 890. They have a terrific web page with lots of information including how to talk to your parents about your feelings.

As with the others who have replied to you, please take steps to get checked out.

Mary