How to know if you have mental illness or you're just going through a 'sad phase'?

[PetaRina]

how do you know if you have anxiety or depression, or if you're just going through a 'sad period'?

For a few years now i've been feeling isolated, and sad, and it's getting progressively worse all the time, and i'm kinda scared it'll get to a point where i'll just give up. I cry all the time, there's days where i can't get out of bed and just lay there for hours and hours and others where on a whim i decide to catch a train to somewhere random just to explore. i have all these textbook 'symptoms' that are typical of what you always hear are related to some sort of mental illness.

However,  I'm 18, failing university & I don't have any friends or family members other than my parents (who i'm not close to), so I don't have any one to talk to. Rationally, i know these are things that can make someone any person really sad or upset, so how do you know if you're sad because of something that's happened, or because of the situation you're in, or if you have an illness of some sort?

For a while i thought i had social anxiety, because i'm outgoing for things like public speaking when i'm doing a speech, but had this debilitating fear talking on the phone, of conversations & small talk, i would try to plan what to say in my head then stutter it out and become flustered, but it seems like every second person these days has social anxiety, so how do you know if you're just one of those 'awkward people' or if there's actually something wrong?  

There's so many people now quick to diagnose themselves as having depression (cue. Tumblr) just for sometimes being sad, that i'm hesitant to think that there's actually something 'wrong' with me, but i'm not sure how i'm feeling is normal, so I don't know what to do.

[Paul]

Hey PetaRina,

Really glad you've reached out (not on Tumblr) to us here.

It sounds like you have read a lot about depression and anxiety. I also get the feeling you're a very intelligent person because you are questioning cause or effect.

I think the important thing is that first up you described feeling isolated and sad and that you spend hours crying and in bed unable to get out. Those aren't neutral or happy feelings so let's just label them as "not happy"

Whether the "not happy" feelings came from being a bit lonely or isolated or whether they came from a predisposition to depression or being a sensitive person or maybe all of those things isn't going to change that you are feeling "not happy". So let's not use labels for now. You don't have to be labeled as "depressed" or "having an illness" to know you feel down or that something is not right. I know it can be frightening to not know what is going on and need to know so you can feel better or find a sense of relief.

At the bottom of this page there's a "Get Support" please have a look through I really recommend visiting someone to help you with the challenging emotions and perhaps find the right label and then put a plan together on how to feel better and stay well.

For the meantime, no labels, keep reaching out, please please use the resources below and see someone.

Take care.

Paul

[geoff]

dear PetaRina, firstly we aren't trained or qualified in being a psychologist, however I still believe that if someone has experienced depression themselves for such a long time, then we can naturally indicate or give someone advice on whether or not they are suffering from any type of depression, however a doctor or psychologist has to be the one to diagnose your condition, so our diagnosis is not valid.

You say that you have all the conditions that could warrant you being diagnosed as depressed, but I wonder whether you have taken the K10 test, but from you have said you need to go to your doctor and get their opinion.

Losing interest in uni, crying and not wanting to see your friends for a a few weeks, not just for a day or two, but for several weeks could certainly indicate a diagnosis of depression, whether it's mild or whether you have it that could be of concern, but please go to your doctor a.s.a.p.

Let us know what they have to say. Geoff.

[Narniakid]

Hey PetaRina, welcome to the forums and thank you for sharing with us.

The general guideline which most psychologists use that determines whether or not a person is suffering depression or not is if 3 or more symptoms have lasted for more than 6 months. From what you've written, it sounds like there's a good chance you're suffering from depression, however I would highly recommend you see your GP for a professional diagnosis. They will be able to give you some advice, and treatment options such as medication, and also a referral to a specialist psychologist or therapist. 

I applaud you on reaching out to us here, and avoiding negative social media environments such as tumblr, which is by all means a great website (I use it myself) but the general stigma and the idea of social anxiety and depression as a somewhat quirky personality trait is what really worries me, and I am really glad to hear you see through that. 

Read the resources here on the website, see your doctor, and stay strong. Keep us posted.

Crystal