[QuietSoul2013]

How do you know you are suffering from depression?
How can you turn it around into something positive?
How can you stop worrying about everything to the point you just feel like jumping in a hole and pulling the sod over you?
How can you find out why you're depressed? Why do you feel like crying but can't?
How can you be depressed and happy at the same time?
Will getting a job take the depression away?

[Travelinglady]

Hey, Quiet Soul. There are lists of symptoms you can find that give you an idea about depression. For example, do you no longer enjoy the things you used to enjoy, do you just not want to do anything and even sleep a lot, etc.? You can find such a list by Googling "signs of depression." Sometimes folks can feel so down that they don't have the energy to cry.

It depends on why you are depressed whether you can do anything to get better on your own. A lot of it would involve pushing yourself to still be active, go out for walks, and thinking positively. If you are feeling miserable without a job, then that in itself could cause depression. In other words, depression can be caused by life circumstances. You can start to do fun things like listen to pleasing music, smelling good smells, and taking care of yourself. Of course, keep applying for work or try to volunteer in an area that might look good on your resume.

Also, it's believed that some depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. In this case, it would likely be treated by medications and perhaps other kinds of therapy. It can come and go, regardless of life circumstances.

People can be happy and sad at the same time. If the person has a mood disorder, such a bipolar, then that is referred to as "a mixed state."

I encourage you to see a therapist or a doctor for evaluation. Sometimes depression can go away on its own over time. However, if you get to the point where you don't want to live anymore, then please call your doctor or a crisis number. Okay?

I do hope being on Psych Central will be helpful as an activity and a place of support. You already see that some of us truly care here. : )

As far as changing it into something positive, I'm not sure about that--except, like in my case, I have been depressed a lot, so I can offer people advice and understand how they feel.

[Leed]

Hi Quiet Soul ~ For me, I knew I was depressed because everything always looked "gray" regardless of how I tried to be happy. I was always sad, glum, I got irritated easily, and felt like crying. This went on for a long tiime, without any breaks.

I COULDN'T stop worrying about everything. That was part of the problem. I made myself sick worrying. And i could NOT be happy & depressed at the same time. It was impossible for me. Getting a job didn't take the depression away. It might have raised the spirits a little,, but the depression was still there.

What helped me was going into therapy. There I found out WHY I was depressed, and it was clinical depression (major depressive disorder) and I was put on medications. My then therapist told me that because it was clinical, that I'd probably be on medications the rest of my life -- and it's proven true so far. I've had to be on them for about 40 years now. I've been in therapy again since then, and that therapist agreed.

Also the therapists give you tools to help you stop worrying. What good does worrying do? It doesn't stop anything from happening. It doesn't change anything. All it does is make you sick! Once they can get you to believe that, you DO stop obsessing about things.

And turning things from negative into positive takes some work too. You have to look at things objectively and really take stock in things. You can do it, with some help from the therapist.

And you feel like crying because you don't know answers to alot of things or possibly you DO, but you don't know what to do about it. Past memories can haunt you, and can be painful -- you have to learn how to cope with them. The therapist can help you briing them all to a head and put them to rest.

I hope you will consider therapy as that was the only way I could have gotten better. It was the best gift I ever gave myself. Please think about it. I hope you're able to. God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

[henrydavidtherobot]

My thoughts:

How do you know you are suffering from depression?
Only a professional can help you with that.
How can you turn it around into something positive?
People with certain mental disorders (such as depression and GAD) are often more creative and have interesting perspectives. However, I try not to think of mental illness as a positive, but rather an unavoidable fact. It's neither good or bad, just a part of me that I have to manage.
How can you stop worrying about everything to the point you just feel like jumping in a hole and pulling the sod over you?
Face what scares you. Its trite, but true. This isn't an overnight fix.
How can you find out why you're depressed? Why do you feel like crying but can't? Try to cry. Its a release. Exercise, creating something (art, a meal, etc ...), and nurturing something can also help in a different way.
How can you be depressed and happy at the same time?
I wonder the same. Perhaps its not as abnormal as we think?
Will getting a job take the depression away?
I think that it could help. You get to channel some energy, make money, and have the opportunity to meet new people.

[roads]

Hi, QuietSoul. Here's a link to a bunch of resources on the PsycgCentral site for depression:
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/depression/
It includes quizzes and other things that, short of seeing a therapist, may clue you into to how serious your problem may be and what you can do to help yourself.
I'm glad you found use.,please feel free to post wherever you feel a connection.
roadie