depression questions

How did you know you were clinically depressed? What does depression look like?

I asked T if he thought I was depressed recently, and he asked "do you think you are?" Well, I'm not a T, I DON'T KNOW!

At my next session, he described the symptoms of depression to me. I could relate to a lot of them - loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable, changes in sleep habits, a couple of others that I can't remember right now.

But I am not weepy, and I AM managing to get through my day to day stuff.

I guess I don't really know what depression looks like.

Would anyone care to share their experience??

((((((((((( earthmama )))))))))))) Those are interesting questions that I ask myself a lot. The way I know that I am clinically depressed is that I hit rock bottom from time to time. Where I feel like nothing will ever get better and what is the point, I also tend to become a little weepy which can be interesting as I fight crying at all costs. One suggestion may be to journal your experience on how you feel daily, this should actually be able to give you answers. Remember depression has many symptoms and not everyone experiences all of them, it's more of an individual thing.

((((((((((((((earthmama))))))))))))))))))))))

This is some of my experience with depression.

I feel a heaviness in my heart/chest - not a physical heaviness, but emotional.

I feel on the verge of tears most of the time, although since I have been on anti-depressants I don't cry very much.

I would rather lie in bed than doing anything else, although I can and do force myself to get up and about with my daily activities.

I don't enjoy anything - even the stuff that's supposed to be fun.

I don't look forward to anything.

I feel hopeless about the future.

I have no confidence and feel incapable of doing anything right.

Not sure if this helps at all or if it is the info you were looking for. I agree with gimmeice, everyone's experience is different, and the journal thing is a really good idea.

Good question.
I was a 'functioning' depressive. I didn't miss school or work. I thought a depressed person stayed in bed with the covers pulled over their heads.

I underslept, overate, and was filled with negative thoughts. As it would get worse I began to think I didn't matter at all. Nothing I did had meaning, I was just going through the motions. It would get to the point of truly believing I could drop off the earth and no one would notice.

I didn't cry ever, but it was also hard to laugh. I began feeling emotionally numb. Things that made others laugh or cry didn't touch me. I became secretly miserable. I began thinking,"if this is all there is then who needs it." Had no hope for a better tomorrow.

During some of my depressive cycles I'd begin to have anxiety attacks, in fact that is what led to my first hospitalization.

So for me what I watch for is the 'going through the motions' behavior, the emotional shut-down and an increase in negative thinking. When I feel that creeping up on me I start to force myself to get up and shower and get dressed and plan some activities because being alone feeds it. I tell someone I'm feeling down. I do what I can to fight it off and since it can begin in my mind I start to focus on gratitude and I start examining my expectations to see if I'm setting myself up in any way. I can get caught up in self-pity at the drop of a hat sometimes and not even realize it.

Those are some of the things I've discovered about myself. Mine also has an element of messed up brain chemicals that positive thinking won't touch and then it's back on some meds for a while!

Depression shows itself in many ways. I had so many unresolved issues from my childhood and once I found a great therapist and worked on them for over 14 years I have experienced fewer bouts of depression in my life.

Judy

I also thought a depressed person goes to bed and pulls the covers up over their head. Although i feel like that most of the time. I have 4 kids and havent missed doing anthing for them. I dont have a problem with sleep or eating, or crying. I have no hope for the future, look forward to nothing. And dont enjoy anything. I have shut off feelings and just go through the motions. I dont laugh at jokes and the negative thoughts are all thats there. You dont need to have all the symptoms, just enough of them and the severity is different for everyone.