[sophiej14]

im not really sure if i am depressed. I'm in the middle of a divorce so its expected that i feel a little low. But other things are happing to me that are not the norm. I have immense ups and downs. One min im up on a high the next i feel like crying and everything worries me.
I have a spell in April, i had a headache for about 3 weeks. I do feel at times like a cant cope but its not constant. I cant be bothered with my normal activities after work, the gym etc. I just dont have any will or get up and go.
I don't want to go to the doctors for him to just give me drugs as i might just be stressed, not depressed.
I don't have great support, my mum doesn't agree with my decision to leave my husband. She gives me a hard time about it daily. She has says the most horrible things to me. She didn't know how unhappy I was because she didn't make an effort to be in my life at that time (but that's another thread on this forum!!!)

Am i depressed? are these ups and downs symptoms of depression?

[slummerville]

Any down feeling that persists for a long time is considered a symptom of depression. The other big ones are an overwhelming desire for isolation, withdrawing from activities you normally enjoy (for me it's a red flag when I don't want to read). Eating a lot or not eating enough -- and sleep disturbances is a big one.. sleeping too much or barely sleeping/interrupted sleep.

The ups, though, could account for something else. A doctor would ask you if you felt "good" during your ups with a lot of energy. As an "up" could be on the spectrum of bipolar. But you could also be just having a hard time and your brain is trying to cope.

Getting professional help doesn't necessarily mean drugs. Therapy is a great way to vent everything and sort things out - a support system that's nonjudgmental (unlike your mom).. They say divorce is in the top 3 most stressful life experiences.

If your ups and downs last for a significant amount of time (they say at least 2 weeks), maybe you should consider talking to your doctor. Why suffer? Even just trying to get help and building a support system might help. I don't know.. I hope you feel better, though.

[regretful]

I suspect that only a qualified health professional can tell you if you are depressed, but maybe it is stress...hard to say when stress morphs into depression. I'm under immense stress from lack of employment, and that has led to lingering questions in my mind about my self-worth, which led to many thoughts of a self-deprecating nature, that led to loss of energy, followed by loss of interest, followed by sleeplessness (30 mins a day for a period of several weeks). Eventually, I acknowledged this as depression. I've done both therapy and medication ~ I know what cures it for me and that is gainful employment in my chosen line of work...

As for your question about the symptoms, there's a few pages here on psych central that spell out the symptoms. I know that when I'm depressed I have the following problems: sleeplessness, no appetite, no interest in ANYTHING at all, and a persistent feeling that I would be better off if I wasn't alive... Hope that this helps.

[sophiej14]

Originally Posted by regretful

I suspect that only a qualified health professional can tell you if you are depressed, but maybe it is stress...hard to say when stress morphs into depression. I'm under immense stress from lack of employment, and that has led to lingering questions in my mind about my self-worth, which led to many thoughts of a self-deprecating nature, that led to loss of energy, followed by loss of interest, followed by sleeplessness (30 mins a day for a period of several weeks). Eventually, I acknowledged this as depression. I've done both therapy and medication ~ I know what cures it for me and that is gainful employment in my chosen line of work...

As for your question about the symptoms, there's a few pages here on psych central that spell out the symptoms. I know that when I'm depressed I have the following problems: sleeplessness, no appetite, no interest in ANYTHING at all, and a persistent feeling that I would be better off if I wasn't alive... Hope that this helps.

this is helpful thank you. Maybe i just need to talk it out. I do have some of those symptoms mainly the sleep thing and the over eating. oh and also the loss of interest in things i usually enjoy doing.
I hope you find work, its such a stressful thing to go through. I've been there and it was not a nice place. Its good that you were able to identify depression in yourself and get help.

Are you depressed? I do not know. I am not QUALIFIED to answer that.

Let me try this..... I have had a number of suicide attempts in my life (mainly overdoses). now my lower back often hurts for 'no reason'. Do I have liver or kidney failure???

You can not answer that can you? I would wager your response would be that I should seek medical help. That I may be sick and need help.

Well, you may be sick too. A sickness that you did not ask for. A sickness that you do not deserve. And you can be treated for it and recover.

Best wishes to you.