Anonymous asked this question on 5/12/2000:
How do I tell if I am depressed. For the last few years I've just been feeling blue. Nothing seems to interest me anymore. I started feeling this way after losing a family member a few years ago and can't seem to shake it. I tried counseling but without much sucess. It is difficult for me to feel comfortable opening up to people. How do I overcome this problem.
Desertphile gave this response on 5/13/2000:
Hello. Please note that I am NOT a doctor.
Yes, what you are describing is depression. From your very brief description, it sounds like a "Formes Frustes," i.e., not well matched to formal descriptions of depression but you are still experiencing some of the symptoms (judging by what you wrote--- I could be wrong). "Feeling blue" and having little interest in what is going on around one, is a good indication that something profound is going on in your mind, and I believe should be addressed as soon as possible.
You wrote that you "lost a family member." Depression is of course a perfectly reasonable and expected response. Have you asked in the "Death and Dying" category of AskMe.com for input? They have some good people there, and perhaps they can recomend a support group or provide other resourses.
It is distressing to read that you tried counseling and found it inadequate for your needs. Not all therapists are equal: some are better than others. id you meet with a counselor who is well-versed in issues of losing a family member?
As for depression itself, please note that this is an illness generally thought to be caused by stressors such as abuse, loss of a loved one, novelty, and change of environment: these stressors cause neurological changes in the central nervose system. Fortunately, "the talking cure" such as cognative therapy or ghestalt therapy have shown good results in reversing the illness: the anatomical "rewiring" caused by stressors actuall reverse when new insights are gained through psychotherapy. This is demonstrated in rat barins and monkey brains, and the evidence that human brains also benefit is extremely good.
The sooner you address your concern with a mental health professional, the better. Depression is "kindled," and often gets worse without treatment.
Finally, there is the thought of medication. If psychotherapy alone was not successful, visiting a psychiatrist and disscussing the issue with regards to a short-term application of pharmotherapy may be a good idea. One or two months on an anti-depressant -AND- psychotherapy may be a good idea.
The anti-depressant medication very often improves the application of the "talk therapy" (psychoanalysis, cognative therapy, ghestalt therapy), whereas either medication or psychotherapy alone are less effective. I've found that medication allows the psychotherapy to "work" better, and one experiences "gains" from counseling that when not on medication one will often not experience.
Please consider talking with the folks in the "Death and Ding" category here. They may have some insights.
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