Hey. I haven't been diagnosed with depression or anything, so I'm not sure if I have it, but I think I may do, although I don't really want to be sure I think...
Anyway, how do doctors diagnose it? Is it like if you fit a certain criteria/ tick a certain number of boxes type thing?
Or do they have different ways for different people?
And what's the difference between the depression that most people feel at sometime in their life and bad depression, I don't know what it's called-chronic depression maybe??
I don't think I'd really like to be told I had depression now (if I actually did) and think I'll go to the doctor and ask about it when I'm 16, but is there an age you have to be to be diagnosed?
Well, doctors are supposed to use the DSM criteria for depression (link). But in my experience it isn't used so much and doctors usually compare you to their own view of the 'typical depressed person'. Which is quite a wrong thing to do. Actually, I think that most people are asked if they themselves think that they are depressed and the doctor takes it from there. They will probably ask about your mood, what could be causing you to feel low, how you are eating and sleeping.
Chronic depression is where it lasts for many years but the symptoms aren't so severe, they are bearable I guess. As far as I know there is no age that you have to be to be diagnosed with depression, but I would suggest that you think about what might be making you feel bad if that's how you're feeling before you talk to a doctor. They tend to jump straight into antidepressants when all you might need is to tackle some problems and have someone really listen to you.
I hope that everything is alright. Please get in touch any time. Take care. xxx
I put it down on paper and then the ghost does not ache so much.
Don't try to calm the storm, calm yourself, the storm will pass.
living for dying has given a pretty gd summary. Im a prospective med student so av read a bit in2 this area. What u refer 2 as "chronic" depression is actually ( Ppl can correct me if Im wrong) I think actually referred 2 medically as clincal depression. Clinical depression is very different from random every day mood swings- its the kind of thing you're likely 2 kno something is up ie kno if you're unwell enough 2 have it. There is also a mild depression whos name I have forgotten and that is the one that tends 2 drag out 4 long periods of time, altho clincal can 2. Clinical depression can be chronic or acute. Acute illnesses tend 2 be very bad for a period and then go away completely or improve dramatically. Chronic illnesses last 4 long periods of time and may not be cured.
DSM IV is the current diagnostic system for depression. There is also ICD 10 but this has largely fallen out of use. To be diagnosed, you usually have to meet x of the criteria and have been suffering them for a period of time. My diagnosis of clinical depression came after been asked about sleep, eating, self harm, thoughts ie suicidal, worthlessness, concentration, general ability 2 cope with everyday life. I think the time period for symptoms is usually 1-3 months for diagnosis but dont quote me. Again it is usually dependent on the doctor.
Particularly if you are under 18, a GP or equivalent will not make a diagnosis or give you any formal medication without referral 2 a psychiatrist, although it does depend a bit of the doctor- theoretically they are not supposed 2. One assessment method u might meet is the use of a questionnarie which has a special name that I cant remember 2 assess your mood. I did 1 4 my GP and it was things like " how able are you to concentrate on a TV program" then you had to select one of " very able, sometimes able, sometimes unable, not at all able". Thats a pretty basic example and I was already diagnosed depressed at the time but it allows them 2c how youre doing.
If you're unsure, the best thing u can do is get checked out, even 2 put ur mind @ rest. The fact that ur anxious with how u r feeling 2 me would set the alarm bells ringing and I am sure the doctor would much rather c u now, than say 5 months down the line when u could b a lot worse. I was very worried abou the response Id get first time I went 2 GP but since then Ive seen numerous doctors both mental health specialists and otherwise and they have been very supportive. Also as lying says, try and work out wots making u feel that way cos @ the end of the day, its working through that which is gunu change ur mood rather than anything else.
Hey
I am 16, and my doctor just asked me about my life, and what i feel when i cut and relationships and stuff and what i enjoy doing .. i said "nothing really". Then he sent me for a blood test to check for any illnesses that may cause me to feel crap and at the bottom it said "diagnosis: depression" and refared me to CAMHS but i didnt go.
x
After a looong intake with a psychology clinic where they talked to both me and my mother (separately, thank god) about eating, sleep, feelings, what I did with my time, things I liked/didn't like, my SH, school, friends, family life, suicidality, and other things, they put my case up and a psychologist picked it up pretty quickly. Two sessions in (this may not be the norm- one of the sessions was an emergency) they gave me a questionnaire called a BDI-II with a bunch of statements (e.g "I feel hopeless all the time, I feel hopeless some of the time, I feel I am being punished, I feel I might be punished...etc..) and you check off each one that corresponds with how you are feeling. Then, she asked me to explain why I had chosen the one's I had, and to give examples of why I had felt that way. After alllllllll of that, they finally told me it sounded like I was suffering from clinical depression.
but that's in America, it's probably different in the UK.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. - Charles A. Beard
In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
You are probably best going to see your GP for diagnosis or referal before you're 16 as generally in the UK after 16 you'd be considered at "adult". Adult services aren't known for being brilliant and generally they stick you on some medication pretty quickly as their resources don't always stretch far enough for counselling etc. I'm 16 now but I was 14 when I was referred so my treatment is already going on and they've managed to get me a place in 16-19services to bridge the gap between child and adult. This might also be avaliable in your area but it's not particularly common.
Anyway what I'm trying to say is, don't wait. The problem is now ands you're probably best getting it seen to asap so you don't have to feel so bad for unnecessary time.
Take care and let us know how it goes PM me if you need to
i was diagnosed with depression, i went to my doctor because i was really down and never wanted to do anything! we spoke about my life although i didn't tell her about my SI-ing and she diagnosed me with depression, asked me if i wanted anti-depressants and i said no so she put me in contact with a councillor instead!
I already see a psychologist after an OD I took to try and end everything, I have to see her but she's ok so I don't really mind. I'm not sure whether to mention it to her or not, because if I'm already seeing a psychologist the next thing would probably be meds wouldn't it? And I'm scared of side affects from things like that.
There's always been something up, but recently I can't seem to feel anything but hopelessness. I don't really have emotions nowdays, I know it sounds odd but it's like when something happens, then I just stand there thinking "Right, I should be feeling happy/sad/angry/embarrassed about this" but I just stand there and don't really feel anything about it, like it doesn't affect me. I get angry sometimes, but that's about the only emotion I ever feel.
I just want to sleep now too, because the more time I spend sleeping the less time I spend thinking.
Do you think it's worth going to the doctors considering I already see a psychologist, or should I just mention my concerns to her?
I think that if you have a psychologist already who you like being truthful with her is not going to do you any harm. It is often repeated but how can someone help you if they dont know the full story?
Meds dont have to be an option and depending on your location and age may not be given. If your psychologist doesnt know what is going on she may be barking up the tree and she might be able to change the session structure to help your feelings etc.
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
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