Not sure if this is the place for me...

Well, I found myself here and trying to do some research to see if these feelings I get are all in my head. The online quizzes say I should seek professional help to determine if I am considered clinically depressed, but I'm not sure I'm buying it. This place seems like a great place to talk to people and get/give support for feeling blue and I sure seem to be feeling that a lot lately.

I'm a high school music teacher and lately I've been questioning my career quite a bit because of the financial situation our school district is in. It affects my program personally and now I'm trying to figure out if this is the place for me. For someone who has always known how things were going to play out, this is really hard for me. Lately, I hate going to work, I've started getting irritated with the kids, and I get very anxious just thinking about work. I just hate it, but there is no other place I can go.

Things with the marriage are difficult at times. We love each other so much, but it's hard with him working graveyards on the days I have off because this means I'm generally alone most of the time. It makes me snap at him and I cry a lot and can't explain why I'm so sad.

I'm sad a lot and I cry a LOT. I'm not suicidal and I would like to think I'm not depressed. I wish I knew the answer to make it better and to make the sadness go away. Is there anyone out there who might be going through the same thing? Maybe someone I can talk to? For someone who's strong-willed and stubborn, I sure am out of ideas...

Well, I think you'll find lots of people here who can relate and hopefully give you helpful ideas. Don't rule out seeking out a therapist just because you may not be "clinically" depressed. And, I'm sure you've been told or will read many places that you should check with your regular doc to rule out any physical issues that might be contributing to your troubles.

Therapists (and regular folks) can be great for bouncing thoughts, feelings, and ideas off of regarding what you want to change - be it with your self, your career, your goals or whatever. Having someone to listen who's not enmeshed in the rest of your life can help objectify things a bit. Therapists can be great at helping you figure out what's making you unhappy and how to change things to get more satisfaction and happiness out of your life. The first time I wound up in a therapists office was because I was frustrated with my job.

And, of course, there are docs who can suggest medication routes for helping you even out any mood issues so that you can get past the physical depression and work on the stuff that's making you unhappy. Sometimes you have to get passed the sadness and emotional drain first in order to be stable enough to look objectively at the things you might want to change. Also, there are lots of links and lists on this site for books and other materials to help you identify what you might want to work on.

Welcome and hope you are able to find some help here...

Do me a favor and pm me!! I know how you are feeling and I am so sorry that you are not happy with your life the way it is. Sometimes life throws things at us th that we don't like and it's hard to cope with it. If you want to talk pm me and I will be here for you!! *hugs*

Hi there, and welcome!

To me, it sounds like you're lonely, anxious, stressed and frustrated. All of those things, after time and with no resolve, can bring about a depression.

The worse the anxieties are, the deeper the depression can become; only to make first symptoms worse and then the depression "grow". It's a cycle.

I think that you have alot going on in your life. I also think seeing a good therapist, someone just to hear YOU, understand YOU, be there for YOU. Also, we're here to listen to you and understand you. You're not alone.

I wish you more than well, and hope to hear more from you.

Again, welcome.

KD

((((((((((( anielica )))))))))