[im so academic]

But if I go to the doctors, what would they do? They would most probably (if it turned out to be true) put me on medication, put it on my medical record, make it known to people...

No thanks.

I just want to sort it out for myself. Thanks to all those who have offered me help in the past - but any concrete things I should do? (Besides tell anyone in real life).

[Exopaladin]

(Original post by im so academic)
But if I go to the doctors, what would they do? They would most probably (if it turned out to be true) put me on medication, put it on my medical record, make it known to people...

No thanks.

I just want to sort it out for myself. Thanks to all those who have offered me help in the past - but any concrete things I should do? (Besides tell anyone in real life).

It will be on your medical record for your GP/maybe your NHS trust, but there's no magic central database at the moment that employers or anyone can check against and see "That person has depression". They would likely offer you medication and/or therapy, depending on what they feel is appropriate and what you want (if you don't want meds they'll probably offer therapy).

They won't make it known to anyone (including your parents) unless you're an immediate threat to yourself and tell them you're going to commit suicide or something.

In terms of sorting it out for yourself, there's online cognitive behaviour therapy and a variety of natural things that're supposed to help depression (like St Johns Wort) but bear in mind that a lot of natural things interact with a lot of real medication like birth control.

Really you're best off seeing a doctor though.

[im so academic]

(Original post by Exopaladin)
It will be on your medical record for your GP/maybe your NHS trust, but there's no magic central database at the moment that employers or anyone can check against and see "That person has depression". They would likely offer you medication and/or therapy, depending on what they feel is appropriate and what you want (if you don't want meds they'll probably offer therapy).

They won't make it known to anyone (including your parents) unless you're an immediate threat to yourself and tell them you're going to commit suicide or something.

In terms of sorting it out for yourself, there's online cognitive behaviour therapy and a variety of natural things that're supposed to help depression (like St Johns Wort) but bear in mind that a lot of natural things interact with a lot of real medication like birth control.

Really you're best off seeing a doctor though.

It's just I don't think medication/therapy will really help the issues I have.

[Dwayne Hicks]

I know it's not what you want to hear-but honestly I think going to the doctors would be a step in the right direction. I'm currently in a similar boat to you right now and considering getting in contact with the "Primary Care Mental Health Team". For a couple of months now I have felt that it can't really offer me something that will be actually beneficial. But talking with my GP I have come to realise that there's no harm in confiding with these people in complete confidentiality (you aren't required to tell anyone about it and it's illegal for doctors to "make it known") . Sometimes you need to share your burden with these people who make it their life's work to do exactly that-help you carry the burden. I know it's unlikely what I'm saying will really impact your decision but it's my honest, caring, advice so i'll leave it at that.

[xsindy]

- Eat properly, drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep.
- Surround yourself with fun people, people that love you, people you enjoy being with.
- Distract yourself: games, movies, books, drawing... that sort of stuff.
- Exercise/working out really helps

Hope I helped X x

[philistine]

They say drinking is a temporary solution. That is, of course, nonsense. If one drinks continually, creating a continuous stream of piss as it were, then one can successfully create a bulwark from the terrors of depression.

[rmhumphries]

(Original post by im so academic)
It's just I don't think medication/therapy will really help the issues I have.

What issues do you have that both medication and therapy won't help?

Problems with a 'real' cause, or caused by fear/anxiety -> Therapy can help.
Problems without an apparent cause -> Medication may help. (On this note, medication can help both categories, but does have side effects, so best to try therapy first if you feel the problems you are having are not more serious than potential side effects)

[im so academic]

(Original post by rmhumphries)
What issues do you have that both medication and therapy won't help?

Problems with a 'real' cause, or caused by fear/anxiety -> Therapy can help.
Problems without an apparent cause -> Medication may help. (On this note, medication can help both categories, but does have side effects, so best to try therapy first if you feel the problems you are having are not more serious than potential side effects)

It doesn't change reality, does it?

[rmhumphries]

(Original post by im so academic)
It doesn't change reality, does it?

No, but you can.

Say, for instance, someone has bad relations with their family. Therapy can help them work on those relationships, and make them better; or if that isn't an option, try and help them become less dependant and more accepting of the family situation, so they can be happy despite the family problems.

I can't give examples that are exact to you unless you say what your problems are (and even then, my advice is only informal), but I believe most things can be worked on and made better, even if it takes time.

[soempty]

When i have a really **** times i listen to the most agressive music i can find and it helps me to forget about my griefs (it's kinda strange but i become angry and that anger gets released at the same time, and i become quite upbeat and ready to act). Try it out, it might work for you.

[kiss_me_now9]

(Original post by rmhumphries)
No, but you can.

Say, for instance, someone has bad relations with their family. Therapy can help them work on those relationships, and make them better; or if that isn't an option, try and help them become less dependant and more accepting of the family situation, so they can be happy despite the family problems.

I can't give examples that are exact to you unless you say what your problems are (and even then, my advice is only informal), but I believe most things can be worked on and made better, even if it takes time.

This.

Doctors cannot and will not share your medical information with anyone who doesn't have to know it. That means your school cannot know, your parents definitely cannot ask for it, and future employers/universities cannot know about it unless *you* choose to disclose it. To share it with anyone who isn't in full need of knowing about it is gross misconduct and breaches the confidentiality act which would result in them losing their job.

Medication may work, you may not need it. Therapy may work, it may work better with meds. The first step is going to see someone and figuring out a) what you think is causing it and b) what you feel will be the best course of action - no-ones going to force you into something you don't want. I would strongly advise you go see a GP.

[Rubbaduckzilla]

councelling might help

[minimarshmallow]

(Original post by im so academic)
It doesn't change reality, does it?

Cognitive behavioural therapy changes how you view reality.

For example, if you get a bad grade on an assignment:
You could think: I am completely rubbish at my subject - uncontrollable internal attribution
You could think: I didn't try hard enough - controllable internal attribution
You could think: The assignment was hard and I did the best that I could - uncontrollable external attribution
You could think: This assignment hasn't been marked correctly or was an unfair test and I should tell somebody - controllable external attribution

Depressed people tend to use uncontrollable internal attributions for things in their lives - they blame themselves and think there's nothing they can do about it - and psychologists have identified it as one of the key parts of anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure, often named as the defining symptom of depression). Cognitive behavioural therapy helps you to take the same reality and attribute the bad things differently (and often in a way that is actually closer to what is happening as well) and helps with all sorts of disorders from depression to agoraphobia.

I'd say go to the doctors. Your records are confidential and you can't recover from clinical depression (if indeed that's what it is) on your own!

[AminaS]

Like it's been said above, have a healthy diet, exercise daily, surround yourself with loved ones, that sort of stuff. Hope you get better soon

[Joinedup]

Best do something about it rather than struggle with it on your own... And by do something I mean go see your gp.
If you're really dead set against going to see your gp there is an online cbt like website called 'moodgym' but i suggest you see the gp.
Depression can waste what should be the best years of your life and make you fail to live up to your potential (including academically)

[flibdoo]

(Original post by im so academic)
It doesn't change reality, does it?

Your view of reality is skewed by various things - your emotions, your past experiences, and so on. Not just yours - everyone's. That's just how brains work. They occasionally do silly and counterproductive things, like feeling sadness or anger, but these are usually temporary and short-term, and useful in the long run. Many people are able to help these feelings along with exercise, diet or music. But when your brain is so overloaded with one thing or another that it stops you functioning in a normal way, stops you being happy, and even sometimes works against your own best interests in the long term, you need to see a doctor. It may be that nothing is wrong with you - it may be that the usual effects of puberty are hitting you harder than most, for whatever internal or external reasons. It may be something serious. That's not a risk worth taking.

Nothing that goes on your medical record will ever be seen by anyone apart from the doctors who treat you, and there are lots of treatment options available. Just like exercise, diet and music, don't knock antidepressants, CBT, counselling or anything else until you've tried them. Something will work for you.

[lovers in japan]

(Original post by flibdoo)
Your view of reality is skewed by various things - your emotions, your past experiences, and so on. Not just yours - everyone's. That's just how brains work. They occasionally do silly and counterproductive things, like feeling sadness or anger, but these are usually temporary and short-term, and useful in the long run. Many people are able to help these feelings along with exercise, diet or music. But when your brain is so overloaded with one thing or another that it stops you functioning in a normal way, stops you being happy, and even sometimes works against your own best interests in the long term, you need to see a doctor. It may be that nothing is wrong with you - it may be that the usual effects of puberty are hitting you harder than most, for whatever internal or external reasons. It may be something serious. That's not a risk worth taking.

Nothing that goes on your medical record will ever be seen by anyone apart from the doctors who treat you, and there are lots of treatment options available. Just like exercise, diet and music, don't knock antidepressants, CBT, counselling or anything else until you've tried them. Something will work for you.

Um, that's not true. For the job offer I've received, I have had to have a medical review of the past two years... my record isn't very good. Obviously not all jobs will require this, but if you have a field in mind, beware, it might get you. I did get medical help, but ultimately I found the counselling I received (through a charity not the NHS) helped the most, not the copious amounts of medication etc. Although, if you just speak to a doctor, this won't affect it, it's only after a diagnosis and lots of treatments that it could potentially become a problem.

[A Cat]

(Original post by im so academic)
It doesn't change reality, does it?

Well, as we can infer from depression, it is the internal reality which affects how we view the external reality (life). i.e. a happy person will see a beautiful life and a depressed person will see a terrible one. Make note of the order, as life will generally stay the same (to some extent), while the way we recieve life can change very quickly and easily - with will.

[blueray]

(Original post by im so academic)
But if I go to the doctors, what would they do? They would most probably (if it turned out to be true) put me on medication, put it on my medical record, make it known to people...

No thanks.

I just want to sort it out for myself. Thanks to all those who have offered me help in the past - but any concrete things I should do? (Besides tell anyone in real life).

Yoga for depression, google it. It helps a lot of people.

[im so academic]

(Original post by cyfer)
I've been looking through the last few threads you've made and I can't stop laughing.

Something seriously bad must have happened to you to turn you from bubbly to the gender-obsessed narcissist that you are now.

Meh, probably puberty.

No, not going into specifics but I did not start puberty when I started feeling like this.