The thing is with depression is that it can, as you're finding, mask 'real' feeling. Depression can, well, press down deeper feelings, which is part of it's function. It can be what happens with emotional overload. Sinking into depression can be a 'cover' for a deep grief that you're feeling emotionally - that can be any kind of loss, for example something like your excitement and happiness, or sadness and pain, not having been sensitively responded to by important people in your life. There can get a point where the mind just 'gives up' hoping and depression can result.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that depression can be part of teenage angst, I know it certainly was for me [and many other people on this site..] When you become a teenager, you're leaving behind your childhood, and there can be many inner conflicts about this - the whole rebellion v. grieving a lost childhood and all that involved for you being one example of such a conflict. You're likely trying to discover your own identity, and if there're intense insecurities there for whatever reason, depression can be a natural and entirely normal result.
In short, depression can be an extension of teenage angst, or teenage angst that's out of sorts in some way or another. Am I making sense?
You're not weak. Sure, depression can be a defence against feeling painful emotions [I know that sounds kind of paradoxical, but psychological defences are like that!] but it's there for a reason. It can be telling you that there's something important you need to listen to inside of yourself.
You can take or leave what I've written here - it may or may not apply to you. But hopefully it can stimulate further thought and perspective on what might be going on for you emotionally right now.
|