how do you know when you have despression, or if your just having a bad day?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 257
how do you know when you have despression, or if your just having a bad day?
I am posting this because as most of you know if you have read my story that my dad is an addict (currently clean) and there are times when I think I suffer from depression but I cant be sure so how do I tell if I have despression or if I am just pissed off for the day?
I gotta know if I have this or not.
I gotta know if I have this or not.
Hi King - you are up late! I'm on the island so only 10:46 here. I guess I don't have an answer for you but I know I have ups and downs - I have an AD - I trust my Dr. and I'm sure you could talk to yours too. Don't you think that would be a good idea. Having a Dad an addict doesn't help but look after yourself and make an appointment soon. OK (((HUGS)))
O.K. The absolute best way is to see a qualified physician.
This would be a psychologist or pyschiatrist. Psychiatrists
are also medical doctors who can order diagnostic tests
and prescribe medication. It is better to see a doctor and
discuss symptoms, as persons with mild depression and/or
low self esteem might read books or pages on the web on the
subject and erroneously believe they have everything which
would be self-defeating. However, others here may be able to direct
you to appropriate websites, if you wish.. Maybe a moderator?
Thanks for sharing King.
I pray you find the help you need.
Love,
IO
This would be a psychologist or pyschiatrist. Psychiatrists
are also medical doctors who can order diagnostic tests
and prescribe medication. It is better to see a doctor and
discuss symptoms, as persons with mild depression and/or
low self esteem might read books or pages on the web on the
subject and erroneously believe they have everything which
would be self-defeating. However, others here may be able to direct
you to appropriate websites, if you wish.. Maybe a moderator?
Thanks for sharing King.
I pray you find the help you need.
Love,
IO
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 257
Hi King - you are up late! I'm on the island so only 10:46 here. I guess I don't have an answer for you but I know I have ups and downs - I have an AD - I trust my Dr. and I'm sure you could talk to yours too. Don't you think that would be a good idea. Having a Dad an addict doesn't help but look after yourself and make an appointment soon. OK (((HUGS)))
King: Try this website. It is NIMH and will not try to "push"
you into some clinical trial for a new drug. It seems you
are desperate, so you might begin here. I am not too good
at this, but you cansimply go to your search engine and
type in "Depression".
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinform...essionmenu.cfm
Depression-National Institute of Mental Health
Sherry
you into some clinical trial for a new drug. It seems you
are desperate, so you might begin here. I am not too good
at this, but you cansimply go to your search engine and
type in "Depression".
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinform...essionmenu.cfm
Depression-National Institute of Mental Health
Sherry
A picture's worth a 1000 words
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: With any luck, I'm lost in a view finder
Posts: 2,954
KING...my philosphy is that if you're not sure...that's when a doctor should be seen. If you have insurance, the best thing you could do for yourself is to schedule an evaluation with a psychologist.
Just in thinking that you might be dealing with something...is enough reason to have it checked out. So many people suffer from mental illnesses and depression for years (and often for their whole lives) without finding out that what they were experiencing wasn't how it is suppose to be -- and that with a proper diagnosis and doctor's help....they could have lived such a more productive and happy life.
Your father being an addict (in my book and only my book) is good enough reason to get an evaluation by a psychologist. I say this because addiction not only runs in family lines, but many people unknowingly become addicts because they were self-medicating an underlying mental illness -- such as a low level depression or ADD or whatever. They didn't know they were self-medicating...and they sure didn't know they would become addicted. So...if there's something there....isn't it better to find out sooner...rather than later?
It is also a personal theory of mine (that i've come to see from my research of both addiction and mental illness)...that the majority of addicts and alcoholics have 1 or more mental illness, but that it hasn't been diagnosed because when symptoms really started showing...that's when the addictions came into play and then it became difficult to see the underlying mental illness.
Just remember...both addiction AND mental illness/depression run in family lines...through generation after generation.
Just in thinking that you might be dealing with something...is enough reason to have it checked out. So many people suffer from mental illnesses and depression for years (and often for their whole lives) without finding out that what they were experiencing wasn't how it is suppose to be -- and that with a proper diagnosis and doctor's help....they could have lived such a more productive and happy life.
Your father being an addict (in my book and only my book) is good enough reason to get an evaluation by a psychologist. I say this because addiction not only runs in family lines, but many people unknowingly become addicts because they were self-medicating an underlying mental illness -- such as a low level depression or ADD or whatever. They didn't know they were self-medicating...and they sure didn't know they would become addicted. So...if there's something there....isn't it better to find out sooner...rather than later?
It is also a personal theory of mine (that i've come to see from my research of both addiction and mental illness)...that the majority of addicts and alcoholics have 1 or more mental illness, but that it hasn't been diagnosed because when symptoms really started showing...that's when the addictions came into play and then it became difficult to see the underlying mental illness.
Just remember...both addiction AND mental illness/depression run in family lines...through generation after generation.
I'd suggest going to a clinical psychologist. Psychologists are the highest trained professionals at diagnosing mental health concerns. They can do a structured interview and possibly some assessments to help you figure out what is going on. Psychiatrists are also great resources, though they typically focus on meds management, and sometimes just handle referrals from psychologists once a dx is established.
-p
ps. I have an admitted bias towards clinical psychologists, but I still think this is a perfect case for a clinician.
-p
ps. I have an admitted bias towards clinical psychologists, but I still think this is a perfect case for a clinician.
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