A
female
age
26-29,
anonymous
writes:Hiya everyone,I'm feeling a little bit worried about myself recently as I've been feeling really down and miserable for no reason. I'm 16 and thought it was just my hormones but since I was 14 going on 15 I have always felt a little bit down and upset for no reason. I noticed recently that I have started eating quite a of of food, even when I'm not hungry and I struggle to get to sleep at night and then I wake up every hour starting at around four in the morning till I just get fed up of waking up. I'm always tired and I have no energy and I have an extremely short temper and seem to be very touchy and irritable, I also noticed that I'm not very motivated and don't care about anything. I looked on the internet and these all seem to be signs of depression, so do I actually have that? Am I depressed? I really hate feeling the way I do and a few weeks ago I found a stupid strategy (what I thought was a 'solution') to feeling so down, I took some spirits without my parents finding out and drank them throughout the day, I took bacardi, vodka, gin and rum and put the clear ones in water bottles and had them at school, I hid the empty bottles under my bed and I have ran out, so I'd take the odd glass of wine or can of cider but the small amounts don't give me the feeling I had with the spirits so I haven't drank for a while, I know that's really bad but I can't tell anyone who I know this. The way I feel is affecting my relationships at home too, I constantly snap at my mum when she does nothing wrong, it seems everything she does irritates me, I reject her hugs and kisses because I feel something against her but I don't know why and now my sister has come home from university and we keep having little arguments. I wish I could tell them that I think I have this problem but I don't want to sound like a psycho to them or cause any more problems. I hate how I am, I always feel like I want to eat and sleep and just don't care about my life or anyone and anything in it and I don't know why. I thought drinking alcohol made it better because the effect of it made me feel happier but I realize it just gave me another issue of wanting it all the time. I really don't know what to do, it's so hard trying to act normal so no one asks 'what's up' or 'why are you miserable' I can't stand it when people ask me that. Please help me I really don't know what to do. Thank you xx
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female
reader, Honeypie  + ♥, writes (3 June 2012):
 IT seems like you know instinctively that something feels "wrong".
1. Over eating can lead to a deep resentment of food and/or yourself and eating disorders.
2. Alcohol can emphasize feelings and mood swings, so drinking can actually make everything seem worse.
Talk to your mom/dad and go see your doctor. He might be able to find a good youth counselor/therapist. It does sound like depression. The fact that you are trying to isolate yourself and pushing people away that you KNOW love you points to it. Don't be scared to go to the doctor, or to talk to your mom/dad.
It could be something as simple as an hormonal imbalance. It could be depression. No one here can diagnose you correctly.
You seem like a smart girl, so take charge. This is your life.
A
male
reader, downonmyluck +, writes (3 June 2012):
I'll have to pretty much argue with the people here(3) of them that gave you their advice. Ya, sounds like depression to me. I was depressed early on in my childhood all the way past high school , so I defintely know what it is. One thing to keep in mind that you haven't already read here on this page is that you especially need to do something about this when you have been experiencing this for a period of more than 2 weeks straight. Anyone can be depressed from time to time,but you need to keep track of it on a daily basis if this lasts for more than 2 weeks straight. Good luck to ya! I know it can be overcome with therapy & medication. I know, I;m living proof of it! The longer you let it go, the longer it will normally take to recover from it.
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A
male
reader, no nonsense Aidan +, writes (2 June 2012):
There is no exact way to diagnose depression other than by evaluating the symptoms: your mood swings, general disinterest, lack of motivation, anxiety and tiredness and fatigue are all indicators of depression, which means that you should go and see your doctor, in confidence. You may be given medication, you may be offered an alternative such as counselling. Whatever it is, it’s worth going. And do confide in family members you trust about this. People with depression can actually be very good at hiding it, but getting support around you will help you enormously. Depression is a mood disorder, that means that episodes of depression do not have to have an obvious trigger: feeling low, without any obvious reason, is one sign that the feeling you are experiencing may be a sign of depression, rather than the normal feelings of being upset and anxious that life events can cause. I must stress the importance of not medicating your depression with alcohol: firstly, drinking all day is extremely dangerous. Secondly, blotting out emotions with drink will encourage you to drink a lot, and regularly. That in turn can lead to alcohol dependence. Thirdly, alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant. Far from making you happy, it often intensifies our emotions by inhibiting our ability to control ourselves. That’s why a person who starts drinking in an angry mood may become more aggressive, and why drinking in a state of sadness can lead to displays of sadness such as crying whilst drunk. Basically, it’s not going to help.
Please do not be anxious about visiting your doctor: it’s important not to bottle up these feelings, whether they are being caused by depression or not. Your doctor will talk with you, and be in a much better position than I as a non-expert with only a working knowledge of these issues will be to identify whether depression, or some-thing else is at the root of your unhappiness. You also mentioned that you are still at school: do you have a school counsellor? It’s quite common for schools to provide a counsellor, with whom you can either make an appointment or enter a drop-in session. Finally, try to explain this to family members. Explain how you feel and that you need some help. Make sure they understand that they’ve not done anything wrong, you don’t know why you feel this way. They may be upset, but finding out later on might be harder for them.
I wish you all the very best.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (2 June 2012): It does sound to like depression, i suffer with it myself on and off and actually a lot of people do, its quite common so you're not the only one. You should talk to your parents about it as that's also what they're there for, and a problem shared is a problem halved, you will feel a bit better for just having told someone about it. Also if and depending on what type of depression, you may also benefit from a visit to you GP as he/she will be able offer you various ways of help, from medication to counselling or to simply to advise you to change your lifestyle get a hobby and keep yourself busy after school, change your routine. Doing the same thing day in and day out does begin to get boring and you get in a rut and start to feel fed up. Good luck hope I've been able to shed a bit of light on it for you and oh I almost forgot - don't turn to drink as that's a depressant too and will only lead to more additional problems you don't need. :)
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A
male
reader, Myau  +, writes (2 June 2012):
 Depression is very serous. I am suffering it as I write this. And I have to say you are better than I was at your age. I was in denial.
Now at age 33, I am getting counciling and feeling much better. Everyone I talk to always says that I look different :)
Id advise you to tell your mother and ask for counciling. Sooner the better. Depression is caused by a long build up of bad experences and feelings, not just one insident.
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