[siempre nada]

I was wondering..how long have you all been depressed? How old were you when it started?

[NuckingFutz]

15 was my first depressive episode...that I can remember. I am 48 now. I have had many depressive episodes throughout my life. There are many treatments available but there is no cure yet.

[Tatiaz]

Originally Posted by siempre nada

I was wondering..how long have you all been depressed? How old were you when it started?

I guess it started when I was quite young. Probably 11 or 12. It's been back and forth since then. Diagnosed first at 16. Took mess for a while, self-medicated through college and now 27, back with an episode-- though I'm not sire it ever went away, I was just more distracted prior to this recent bout.

[Naturefreak]

Way too long...... it's depressing just thinking about it.

[justjoanie]

I had a mild depresive episode when I was 13. But I had a full blown episode at 16. My parents didn't recognize it, they just thought it was that teenage phase of being down all the time. They thought I was just lazy. I didn't realize that there was an actual diogosis, I just thought I was crazy. I was finally diognosed at about 20. It's an ongoing battle.

16 was when I first started feeling depressed. However, I was making suicide deals with myself from the age of 8.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

This time 4yrs non-stop

started at about 8

[sweet_disposition]

Since I was 11, diagnosed when I was 12. No one (not even me!) understood what was happening to me for about a year.

[Miss Laura]

Been depressed since I was 12 and only got diagnoised when I was 24 I am now 25

[Rohag]

Diagnosed about 13-14 years ago, I think.

[M_Juniper]

Good heavens - me too. I'm 66 so it's been about 58 years, since I was 8 or earlier.

[fade2blue]

I have had these feelings for most of my life, but was not diagnosed until about 16 years ago after a catastrophic loss. Since understanding my illness I realize that a lot of things I struggled with in childhood, feelings I felt back then, and related issues were all due to the same thing. I used to tell doctors and people all the time about the way I felt, and things over which I felt I had no control, and no one would help. They just said I was "difficult" or should "apply myself", and I knew it was so much more.

[Butterflyangel]

Probably since I was about 7yrs old. But I was not truely diagnosed until my twenties. Never new what was wrong with me until then.

I was diagnosed when I was 14 or 15, i'm 23 now.

[Middman]

Since I was 15, On and off threw out my life. Im 44 now, Gave up on meds and thearpy 2 years ago. There is no cure, I Have been to so many docs,and therapist. Theres nothing new they can tell me. I am dealing with it on my own now.

[campobello]

I've been depressed since my teens, 40+ years ago. One suicide attempt about 4 years ago - pills. Have seen therapists on and off since 17. People in training when I had no money. Later, when I had the bucks - gestalt person, Alice Miller oriented person and other neo-Freudians, transactional, spent 3 years working with Robert Harper an Albert Ellis RETer. Doesn't much matter what they call themselves, the sessions are generally the same - odd, no? Harper did yell at me a few times. Drugs, of course, different cocktails: prozac; zoloft which made me orgasm before I got my pants off; MAO Emsam patch which precipitated suicide attempt; elAvil - I was climbing the walls; lithium; lexapro, wellbutrin and ritilin; currently wellbutrin and cymbalta. Currently seeing a therapist - seems more like coaching than anything else. Tired all the time. Body aches. I keep thinking about Freud's substituting neurotic misery for normal unhappiness, and what my mother said just before she died from cancer, "Is this all there is?" I don't know anyone who seems happy in their marriage. If women fake orgasms, men survive by fake listening and fake sharing. And inventing "legitimate" reasons for being away from the house. Enough of my babbling for now.

[campobello]

Originally Posted by Middman

Since I was 15, On and off threw out my life. Im 44 now, Gave up on meds and thearpy 2 years ago. There is no cure, I Have been to so many docs,and therapist. Theres nothing new they can tell me. I am dealing with it on my own now.

I'm wondering if that's the route I should go. Wean myself off the drugs, stop seeing therapists and deal with it on my own. What do you mean by "Deal with it on (your) own"? Exercise has never worked for me, and I used to ride bike 150 miles or so a week, and lift weights 3 times a week. Diet never worked. Meditation is a no go. What's working for you?

[SophiaG]

Looking back I had my first episode when I was 14. Then it remitted for a year and started back up when I was 16, worsened into a major depressive episode when I was 19.

I was just recently diagnosed 2 weeks ago. I'm 21.

Thank you for this topic! It's very interesting.

[heathery]

my first episode happened when i was 6 or 7 i cant remember too too much but it really hit me hard when i was 10 and have tried to deal with it since. I was put on meds back then but i dont see the point to take them really false hope not needed here reality yes.

[BuckVet09]

Since I was 23. I dont know why people get so uptight about medications? They help you give you your life back. Ambian has worked for me with sleep, and am now on zoloft. Monday I call my psychiatrist to change medications for the 2nd time. Got to find a happy pill. It does exist.

[Elana05]

3 years.

[heathery]

Originally Posted by BuckVet09

Since I was 23. I dont know why people get so uptight about medications? They help you give you your life back. Ambian has worked for me with sleep, and am now on zoloft. Monday I call my psychiatrist to change medications for the 2nd time. Got to find a happy pill. It does exist.

Some people just can't find that medicine to help them.. In my case I can't find the right kind nor can I afford any medicine or anyway to get help.

[katika]

I was 12. Or maybe earlier, I can not remember exactly when but I do remember crying myself to sleep at that age.

[MegC]

Looking back, I can recall distinct episodes in my teen years, but didn't seek help until my late 20's.

[wanttotalk]

I was voted class optimist in high school. First realized I was depressed a year after my daughter died. I took an antidepressant for over a year then realized it was making me sooo sleepy and increasingly sleepy. I weaned off from it and have been afraid of trying another one. Have been struggling with depression for 14 years.