[im so academic]

(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.

What would work for me is having a nice boyfriend.

[im so academic]

(Original post by Samrout)
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.

Bull****. Your environment (to the greater extent) determines whether you're happy or you're sad.

If you are surrounded by people who love you, have no financial worries and can go and do whatever you want = happy.

If you are in a war-torn country where everyone is getting gunned down and you have nothing to eat = sad.

[Idle]

(Original post by im so academic)
Bull****. Your environment (to the greater extent) determines whether you're happy or you're sad.

If you are surrounded by people who love you, have no financial worries and can go and do whatever you want = happy.

If you are in a war-torn country where everyone is getting gunned down and you have nothing to eat = sad.

Very rich and successful people with husbands/wives and children can suffer from depression. Your circumstances can be a very big influence yes but just because someone has what people would view as a good life does not make them immune to depression.

[Intriguing Alias]

Whilst I don't know that much, I really don't think you have depression. You say that having a boyfriend would solve it - then it isn't depression.

[im so academic]

(Original post by Idle)
Very rich and successful people with husbands/wives and children can suffer from depression. Your circumstances can be a very big influence yes but just because someone has what people would view as a good life does not make them immune to depression.

So those in war-torn countries where their parents' heads are being shot off in front of them and they themselves are likely to die in the same way, yeah, they're happy, right?

[im so academic]

(Original post by hassi94)
Whilst I don't know that much, I really don't think you have depression. You say that having a boyfriend would solve it - then it isn't depression.

Not "a" boyfriend. The feeling has to be mutual you know. No one is happy if they are in a relationship where the other person doesn't reciprocate the same feelings.

[Idle]

(Original post by im so academic)
So those in war-torn countries where their parents' heads are being shot off in front of them and they themselves are likely to die in the same way, yeah, they're happy, right?

I would assume generally not but it doesn't technically mean they all have depression.

[Intriguing Alias]

(Original post by im so academic)
Not "a" boyfriend. The feeling has to be mutual you know. No one is happy if they are in a relationship where the other person doesn't reciprocate the same feelings.

Fine, a loving boyfriend. The same point still stands.

(Original post by im so academic)
So those in war-torn countries where their parents' heads are being shot off in front of them and they themselves are likely to die in the same way, yeah, they're happy, right?

That wouldnt really be depression in the psychiatric sense would it? If their lives are actually **** they will be unhappy. Depression is more a state of thinking about things.

[harekrishna]

I think it's very important to contribute to your self worth buy gaining some insight into some foreign subject. Try learning the guitar or engage in reading a book that may be able to trace the jumble of thoughts your having into a collective account of what your feeling. However it is equally important to put your self on the line for someone else as well. Only your words, actions, and initiative will help revive a person's awareness of you. And that is all that matters. Try not to brood and over think a situation or a certain aspect of your life. Just try and focus on the daily activities you desire to sidetrack you from what tomorrow brings. This may seem like a typical reply that you may receive from a person who hasn't dealt with depression or faced it, but I assure you, I have endured a lot of hardship over the past couple of years. Try seeking a family therapist, not a psychiatrist whose job is to evaluate the patient but a professional who is willing to guide give you advice and simply be a companion to talk to. I have been on a medication called welbutrin and although it may not have done wonders at the beginning of its course, it eventually allowed me to get myself back in the general routine of things. However, I can say that it brought a completely different light on how I tend to perceive certain things now. I definitely recommend that or either abilify which slowly gets rid of anxiousness and allows you to have clearer focus. Discuss it with a psychiatrist and get referred to a therapist, a family therapist. A pill can do wonders, surprisingly. If there's anything you need to talk about I'll be your shoulder to cry on. Just try not to be so down trodden all the time.

[Feartheunknown]

(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).

No doctor would put you on any medication - not straight away that is. Firstly, they may make you fill out a questionnaire or something and it asks some generic questions about your day-to-day life and you attitude towards it. From this they may diagnose the severity of the case, or may need to chat with you about it a bit more. The first -and safest - port of call would be to send you to a counsellor. Talking may help you. If after a few sessions this does not help, you may need medication, but medication is almost the last resort as it is so potent and has side effects and presumably, you're under the age of 25. People may suggest taking a more herbal route like using St. John's wort, and the sales of this have gone sky high this summer mainly because us Britons may still be feeling the Winter Blues with the crappy weather we have been having lately (hopefully not for long!!) Also exercise helps increase endorphins which make you fell happier! Anyway, hope this helps.

[A Cat]

(Original post by im so academic)
Bull****. Your environment (to the greater extent) determines whether you're happy or you're sad.

If you are surrounded by people who love you, have no financial worries and can go and do whatever you want = happy.

If you are in a war-torn country where everyone is getting gunned down and you have nothing to eat = sad.

Like I said, make note of the order. If you truly believe that your happiness is at the mercy of the environment then you'll have a hard time. If you believe that happiness comes from within one's self through acceptance and knowledge of truth, then you'll have a much easier time. It is not impossible to be happy or sad in either case you've presented, and not impossible to remain happy in external conditions of sadness.

I will elaborate (not just for you, trollburger, but for anyone who is willing to listen). The internal reality is that of thoughts, mind-made pictures, memories, and emotions and feelings. The external reality is the life you recieve, where the laws of physics such as gravity and whatnot exist. While we (as humans) have learned to manipulate our external reality, through buildings, cars, planes, roads, we have done little in the way of manipulating our internal reality - we have only tried to learn about the brain which is the source of our consciousness, as we have learned about the external reality through science. The more one is living in this internal reality, the further they are from the external reality (god), thus creating a depression. To pull ones'self out of depression requires a few things - to do what is right by the conscience, - to recognise that you are not your mind and all the egotistical things that come with it e.g. you are not your job, "you're not your ****ing khakis", - to know that everything in the external reality is subject to balance and min-max, or it simply wouldn't exist, and to reflect upon the nature of reality. The change has to come from within you, so do not look to the outside to get brighter. If you look for the truth and make it your only want, you'll find it.

[cyfer]

(Original post by im so academic)
No, not going into specifics but I did not start puberty when I started feeling like this.

You sure about that?

You experience mood swings throughout puberty, and since I (think) that you're a girl, that could be anywhere from 13-18.

So until you can legally drink, you should just treat depression as a phase.



Also consider the fact that your 'self-pity' is just narcissism disguised as depth. From what I remember of speaking to you previously, you certainly seem capable of it.

[Anonymous]

Some people are forgetting that depression chooses you, whether you be rich and successful or poor and starving.
As a sufferer of depression i would suggest that you:
Go to the Doctors, they will give you your answers and medication if needed
Counselling, i go and i find it INCREDIBLY helpful
Excersize and eat healthily when you can

I know that when i have my very bad lows you could tell me that i've won the lottery or my Mum has died and i'd feel the same, i wouldn't care. I also can't stand the things i love, friends, music, good food ect But try and surround yourself with people you love, eat the food you like, listen to great music. You may not feel the happy effects at the time but atleast you know deep down that you used to enjoy these, you do enjoy these and you will still enjoy these. I also reccomend reading I Had A Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone which gives a great insight into depression and may help you come to some understanding and conclusion. Best wishes.

[harekrishna]

Anonymous now that you mentioned books I want to include you as well in my journey and embark you on the quest of the great western frontier. Ah yes the ever so humble family scavenging for food, making a living off the prosperity of nature, pursuing a masked vigilante on the run from a lucrative bank robbery. I remember it as if it was yesterday that I had the pleasure of knowing such a life. Read this book by Patrick Dewitt call the "Brothers Sisters." It might not help you with you're depression, but will allows you to see into another man's intricate clockwork of anticipation. Highly Recommended

[im so academic]

(Original post by Samrout)
Like I said, make note of the order. If you truly believe that your happiness is at the mercy of the environment then you'll have a hard time. If you believe that happiness comes from within one's self through acceptance and knowledge of truth, then you'll have a much easier time. It is not impossible to be happy or sad in either case you've presented, and not impossible to remain happy in external conditions of sadness.

I will elaborate (not just for you, trollburger, but for anyone who is willing to listen). The internal reality is that of thoughts, mind-made pictures, memories, and emotions and feelings. The external reality is the life you recieve, where the laws of physics such as gravity and whatnot exist. While we (as humans) have learned to manipulate our external reality, through buildings, cars, planes, roads, we have done little in the way of manipulating our internal reality - we have only tried to learn about the brain which is the source of our consciousness, as we have learned about the external reality through science. The more one is living in this internal reality, the further they are from the external reality (god), thus creating a depression. To pull ones'self out of depression requires a few things - to do what is right by the conscience, - to recognise that you are not your mind and all the egotistical things that come with it e.g. you are not your job, "you're not your ****ing khakis", - to know that everything in the external reality is subject to balance and min-max, or it simply wouldn't exist, and to reflect upon the nature of reality. The change has to come from within you, so do not look to the outside to get brighter. If you look for the truth and make it your only want, you'll find it.

So you believe you can be happy irrespective of one's external environment?

[A Cat]

(Original post by im so academic)
So you believe you can be happy irrespective of one's external environment?

depending on one's knowledge and its power. Do you agree with what has been written? Will you cast aside petty distractions and search for the truth?

[Kage]

Yep, finally you are admitting something you probably have, and you do need to go see your GP to get a recommendation to maybe see a therapist.

[minimarshmallow]

(Original post by im so academic)
Bull****. Your environment (to the greater extent) determines whether you're happy or you're sad.

If you are surrounded by people who love you, have no financial worries and can go and do whatever you want = happy.

If you are in a war-torn country where everyone is getting gunned down and you have nothing to eat = sad.

Do you know who recently suffered from depression? Frankie from the Saturdays.
Tell me now how happiness is all about environment.

[Publius]

Depression is just the natural reaction to the realisation that anything you can do is entirely futile and pointless.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by im so academic)
So those in war-torn countries where their parents' heads are being shot off in front of them and they themselves are likely to die in the same way, yeah, they're happy, right?

There is a difference between being sad and being depressed. Of course those families are in deep, deep pain but that doesn't mean they're suffering from depression. Depression choose you, you don't choose it.