As a person who has been treated for long term depression, I realise that depression carries with it many different symptoms. However, I am also trying to understand if my emotions can be all categorized under depression or would they be more accurate under other terms such as low self esteem, frustration, discouragement, etc.

I have had specifically low self esteem issues relating to childhood bullying. The bullying is long ago and done with, but the self esteem is still an issue and was transferred from school into the workplace which is now highly critical of job performance.

Frustration is another issue I deal with constantly as I and many other people face challenges that our society places in our paths making it difficult for many people to get themselves out of situations they are in. Many people are willing and able to perform and commit but society is very limiting at times. This knowledge and personal experiences in trying to conquer certain challenges and or obstacles brings frustration and eventually discouragement if the fight does not seem to bring the rewards or results we fought for.

Feeling so discouraged, be it from job search with constant rejection or constantly failing relationships, or difficulty communicating one's needs to many other challenges in life that remain unresolved, eventually can lead to discouragement. Once this sense of discouragement sets in, a person can lose their sense of purpose or passion. This can result in a person feeling empty or lost and unmotivated.

While depression does consist of these traits or symptoms...how does one determine how much is simply part of depression or individual issues that can be resolved individually as unique issues by themselves? This is my conflict right now. Are doctors simply treating the individual problems as symptoms of depression so it is easier to just prescribe something to make me physically feel better...or are these individual issues that should be dealt with as something other than depression with their own unique needs that could more accurately be resolved?