[goatee]

If you haven’t been able to tell your T you’re feeling depressed, has your T been able to pick up on it and if so, how did they realize and how long did it take for them to pick up on it? Just wondering what people’s experiences have been in this situation. Thanks.

[velcro003]

it took my T about 3 sessions for her to diagnose me with depression. she always sees me sliding downhill before i do.

[goatee]

Velcro- do you know what it is she notices or how she picks up on it? I’m glad you have such a good T.

[DP_2017]

I typically avoid it but he has known I've struggled with it before, I think just the way I answer things sometimes will prompt him to ask if I'm feeling depressed again.

[velcro003]

she says my speech slows down, my affect becomes more flat...i speak less than i already do.

[annielovesbacon]

I have bipolar disorder and my body language/behavior almost always gives away a major depressive episode without me having to say anything. I don't make eye contact, I'm quieter than usual, I sometimes pick at my nails or hair... etc.

[zoiecat]

Mine knew from day one. He said he has bever seen anyone as flat (affect) as I am. He also said he has trouble reading me because I am stone face. On the other hand he says he is glad I am that way because it is what helped me survive.

He also says I have anxiety and I still really do not understand what that is.

T knew from the get go. It was more a case of why would I not be depressed, given........

[SlumberKitty]

Former T knew. I don't know if current T knows. I had to tell her that I really don't have up days. I have days where I am less down than other days but I really don't have up days. Unless maybe if I am at Disneyland. So, once every two months. Kit.

[ElectricManatee]

Usually she can tell by the time we both sit down at the beginning of session. It's probably some combination of my body language, lack of eye contact, and not making a jokey/chatty comment when I come in. I've been seeing this T for a while, so she's pretty good at reading me.

[nottrustin]

My T could usually tell before I could...it was comforting to know she was watching out for it.

[ArtleyWilkins]

My therapists and my psychiatrist always knew without me having to say a thing. They knew my early warning signs probably better than I did at one time. My affect changes, my speech is slower, finding my words/thoughts is very difficult, I stop making eye contact, my breathing is actually more shallow. All things pretty easy to see for anyone who works with me in that capacity.

[coolibrarian]

She usually notices pretty fast. I think, in the beginning of our time together, I poured out most of my life story in the first of 3 weekly meetings, and then asked her if she had a diagnosis.
These days, she can usually tell that I'm sliding or have slid, into The Pit, from my tone of voice, the way I sit on the couch, how I look (tired, for instance), what I say, etc. Sometimes I say I am only tired, or that I didn't sleep well, but, as we get deeper into the session, I tend to agree with her.

I think depression has very characteristic symptoms that a person who is not depressed can easily recognize. For me, I didn't have significant depression during the time I was in therapy but we often discussed my life-long fluctuating motivation issues and one T suggested perhaps it's part of a low-grade but persistent depression issue.