Is this really depression or am I just lazy?

Hi everybody.

It seems like the during the week when i need to work I am functional, I mean I can make it to work and do my job without anybody suspecting that something might be wrong. But as soon as I get home I find there is nothing of value that I want to do. Reading used to be pleasurable but isn't anymore. I even read a whole textbook for school but the second one just doesn't interest me. I love to paint but have no heart for it. I like watching Law and Order SVU but sometimes I can't even do that. So I just lay in bed listening to the same 45 second loop of music until I drift off to sleep.

I'm on wellbutrin XL, Effexor XR, Topamax and Abilify and nothing seems to be getting better. Nothing ever seems to interest me. Apart from school which is starting again in three weeks. I can't wait, finally some meaning to my life. But I feel like this isn't really depression, even though I know all about anhedonia. I feel like I'm just some lazy person because if it were depression the meds would be working and I'd be full of life and energy. But, not so.

I don't know what to do anymore, try different meds? ?? I just don't know.

Hey, thanks for your clarity in this message and I hope i can be of some help.
To start with: "I feel like I'm just some lazy person because if it were depression the meds would be working and I'd be full of life and energy" is NOT true. Not at all. The meds can either be to give you a little boost so you aren't suicidal all the time, or to give you breathing space and then with the breathing space they give you, you can cope momentarily until you get yourself sorted out.
I'm not sure that made much sense but basically, the meds aren't meant to be a cure like that. They give you space and calmness of mind or a boost so you can then cope with trying to sort out the underlying issues.
Yes, you already know about anhedonia and what you are experiencing is NOT laziness but depression. Yeah, maybe laziness is playing a small factor but it is not the main factor. It is depression.
I suggest you go to a psychiatrist or counsellor as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner you'll be feeling better. It will help you go over underlying issues that may be causing you to be down (we all have them) and if not, it will at least help change your outset and attitude so things can start viewing things as more exciting and WANT to do them. I wish you the best of luck.

When I am feeling really depressed I basicly loose the will to do stuff that I shoudl normaly do. My mom says I am just depressed becasue I need a hobbie but she dosn't get that when you feel depressed you don;t like to do stuff that you normaly like to do.

I don;'t think your lazy I just think that the depression is whats causing you to act that way.

I hope that helps.

Roman

O wow! I have been feeling this way and just thought I was being lazy too!
I see a therapist and have been being treated for four years. There is a noticeable difference in me, but I still have issues. I'll start something and be excited and then it tapers off over time and I have no interest. I wonder if it is possible to have some symptoms disappear but still have others?

Roman,

I absolutely hate when people tell me to get a hobby. I have several but none of them interesting enough to catch my attention or hold it for very long. Thanks so much for relating. It makes me feel normal.

Love and Hugs,
Tara

Hi, I'm a new member and I know just how you feel. I've spent a long time thinking that I was just the most useless, worthless person on the planet and really got to aplace where I couldn't drag myself to do anything or even do anything to cheer myself up. 8 months ago my doctor started me on some meds which seemed to work really quickly but then wore off. We've fiddled with doses and now I feel more stable, at least stable enough to start trying to do something about it. So, perhaps you need to speak to your doctor about your med's, you probably should get some therapists help as well if you can. Meantime I hope knowing that there are others who feel or have felt like that help.

Take care,

I hear you! Some people apparently think that a hobby will cure everything, e.g., In denial of my father's progressing Alzheimer's, my brother suggested that all he needed was, you guessed it, a HOBBY!

I'm sorry you're feeling lousy. If it helps, I feel similarly and I think everyone I know thinks I'm lazy too.

Please don't give up! Get more help, as others have already suggested.