I don't know if I have depression

[Jess_E]

I am 17 turning 18 this year and In the last 2 years I have become extremely emotional and I'm not sure if it's just growing up emotions that everyone feels. I get feelings of sadness, loneliness, anger and overwhelment almost all the time. I kept it to myself but lately my mood swings have caused problems with my motivation at work, and my relationships with my family and my boyfriend. Depression is genetic in my family but it's a lot worse for them than it is for me so I can't really talk to them about it because they will think I'm seeking attention. I want to go see a doctor about it but I'm not sure if they would be able to help me. 

[JessF]

From one Jess to another, I would like to say that it is a classic symptom of depression to think that everyone elses problems are so much worse than yours, so we keep it to ourselves to not bother them. I don't know your family, but I would like to think that their first reaction if you were to tell them how things are for you would be concern because they love you, and they know what it is like to feel like this. And whether they do or they don't, it is worth going to see a doctor and confiding there, I believe they will be able to help you, and look at it this way: you have nothing to lose.

You are at a turning point in your life being 18, it's an exciting time being a transition into formally becoming an adult, and part of that - which you are doing wonderfully here - is recognising your issues, owning them and being honest about them with the people you love. I hope you'll keep talking to us here about how you're going as well.

[geoff]

dear Jess, welcome aboard and great to have you join us.

The Jess who has already replied has a lot of knowledge and so many times what she writes I agree with, as I do again in your case.

You are still young so for sure there are enormous changes going on, but these don't include what you have described, as these are the beginning or have been for the past 2 years of this damn illness called depression.

You are generous in noting that your family is worse off than you, but I don't believe that to be true, because if you have depression you have depression, and it's an illness that messes up with your life.

My take on this is that your family would be devastated to know that another family member has fallen victim to depression and would be more upset rather than seeking attention.

First of all you should go to the doctor, because assuming ( and I don't like that word myself because it's too open and could mean a million options ) that they may not be able to help you means that you are going in with closed eyes, but it's worth a try.

I remember my doctor once said to me that's it a general thought in the medical field that depression is becoming such a large concern in the community, which means that they will go hammer and tong to help those with it as much as they can, so that's why you have to at least see them, but please also remember that depression isn't fixed within a couple of days.

As Jess has said 'keep talking to us here', as your an adolescent and soon to become an adult so now is the time to get help. Geoff. x