[nerdosaurus]

hi,

i am 23 and think i have depression. im so angry and crying all of the time for the last few months, im pushing everyone i love away from me and i just dont know what to anymore. i dont think i could feel any worse

does anyone have any ideas to help me stop this?

[Rohag]

Hello & Welcome, Nerdosaurus!

Here are a few questions to think about (no need to answer if you don't want):

• Have you had a medical screening to determine if you have depression and possibly another illness hiding behind the depression?
• What was going on in your life when these symtoms started? Did something happen several months ago? Was there some big change?
• Has anyone else in your family had depression?
• Is your anger generalized, or does it have a specific object?

Again, Welcome!

[Merlin]

Welcome. I don't have any addition questions to Rohag, but wanted to recommend seeing a pdoc for assessment, if you haven't and seeing him again talking about these symptoms if you have.

[marenita]

I agree with Rohag and Merlin. If you feel out of control, then you need to seek medical help. I was on antidepressants and in therapy for many years. It sucks, but it's the way to get better.

[nerdosaurus]

Thanks,

Two years ago I went to the doctors about it and he asked me about triggers etc, so I split up with my then boyfriend who wasn't a good guy and then was a lot better. Now I think the main triggers are my PhD, mortgage stresses and being treated like a housewife/slave by one of my housemates. This time I've got a fantastic boyfriend but he has told me he misses the old me and I think feeling depressed has changed me and I can't get back to how I was.

A long time ago my Mum had depression after my Grandad passed away she went through a terrible time, as did we all, but I can't see any other family links.

My anger is quite sporadic and even the smallest of things can set me off. Last night I decided to come on here to see how other people deal with it all after one of my episodes. Took the dog out for his night time wee and he wouldn't go for 40 minutes....my tiredness and anger sent me storming off to bed to cry. Generally anything could set me off, a bit like a ticking time bomb.

I think I will try and go to the GPs. It's difficult though to get time off work to go, and due to my PhD and job I know a lot of the doctors and employees of the hospitals down here and I'm worried what colleagues may think (which I know is silly).

I never thought about the possibility of another illness hiding behind depression, is there something else you thought it might be? I don't know much about this area,

Nerdosaurus x

[Puffyprue]

do you know where this angry came from?

[Rohag]

From the Wall Street Journal, Health Journal: Confusing Medical Ailments With Mental Illness, By MELINDA BECK, AUGUST 9, 2011:

More than 100 medical disorders can masquerade as psychological conditions, according to Harvard psychiatrist Barbara Schildkrout, who cited these examples among others in "Unmasking Psychological Symptoms," a book aimed at helping therapists broaden their diagnostic skills. ...

Common culprits include under- or over-active thyroid glands, which can cause depression and anxiety, respectively. Deficiencies of vitamins D, B-12 and folate, as well as hormonal changes and sleep disorders have also been linked to depression.

None of this is to say that anyone's depression is one-dimensional. Whenever possible, I feel it is important to attempt to discover everything that may be malfunctioning.

[nerdosaurus]

Originally Posted by Rohag

From the Wall Street Journal, Health Journal: Confusing Medical Ailments With Mental Illness, By MELINDA BECK, AUGUST 9, 2011:None of this is to say that anyone's depression is one-dimensional. Whenever possible, I feel it is important to attempt to discover everything that may be malfunctioning.

Thanks, that's really helpful, I'll have to take a look at this journal.