How do you know if you are truly depressed?

[the_total_package]

Let's put it this way, I have not left the house the past 2 days. There was a situation a month ago which spurred this feeling, and I was sort of feeling it before that.

It's like I wake up in the morning and feel this huge weight in my head. I don't want to go to the gym like I used to, just no get up and go to do this.

I am dating someone and he's getting into it, and I do really like him, and am attracted, but I have this feeling of ambivalence about it, too.

It's Friday night, I had plans to see a movie with a friend, I just called to cancel, the thought of leaving the house doesn't make me happy.

I am content to think I might be in my house all weekend and not leave. (I made plans to go out of town to see family but I just don't have motivation at all.)

I dread running out of milk soon because I know then I'll have to leave the house.

Is this depression, I just feel like I'm in this funk. Or could it be situational, I had a traumatic event a month ago (surprisingly enough it's not a man issue, nothing to do with relationships.)

[quankanne]

sounds like depression – kind of like you're going through the motions, but underwater ... you can see clearly what is going on around you, even as you interact, but you feel distanced from them.

 

this site does a great job of telling how out-of-whack body chemicals can affect your mental state:

http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=160

 

interestingly enough, different things can trigger episodes of depression: incessant stress, chronic illness, chronic pain, trauma … go talk to your family doctor or his nursing assistant to see if they can help. It might be that you need a low-grade antidepressant to get your blood chemistry back in order, it might be that you need vitamin supplements to help your body generate the chemicals you need. My doc started me off on B12 (pills, then shots), but when the stressors began to overwhelm me, he put me on Wellbutrin and I feel pretty good 99 percent of the time. The other one percent? I'll go into a funk, but I know that it is just temporary and that the meds do work.

 

good luck – living in a bubble isn't something easy dealing with if you don't have the help you need.

[alextop30]

I go with depression too. But I believe that you dont need pills you need to help yourself. I have some kind of thing like that - I get up at 8:00AM and I really dont feel like pushing my body up off the bed and rather just stay there all day - I am not dating anyone - have thread that I tend to feel useless but what gets me out of the house, the hope the saying today is going to be a better day than the one yesterday. How I see it have some personal friends come to your house and tell them that they have to drag you out to night club, bar, dance club - when they come just listen to them the conversation and try to take your mind away from the fact that you are leaving the house and I think you can get over the first time and this will help lift some of that weight in your head.

 

Just another question: Before you went into this stage was your life extremely busy and didnt have time for anything? because it can explain why you are feeling this weight in your head.

 

But it doesnt matter try pocitive things and you can really help youself. I have been through worse so I know what it feels like.

 

Hope I was able to help

[Trialbyfire]

You mention a traumatic situation which caused your withdrawal. Please don't take this the wrong way but it might be time to get some professional help to get over this event. At minimum, talk about it until it no longer looms as a deep, dark secret.

 

I went through some trauma a little while ago and have recently resurfaced, although yes, lol, it was relationship related. It literally sucked all the positive energy out of me to the point where I was completely disinterested in anything else.

 

For your own sake, please, get some help. I highly recommend it.

[polywog]

Let's put it this way, I have not left the house the past 2 days. There was a situation a month ago which spurred this feeling, and I was sort of feeling it before that.

It's like I wake up in the morning and feel this huge weight in my head. I don't want to go to the gym like I used to, just no get up and go to do this.

I am dating someone and he's getting into it, and I do really like him, and am attracted, but I have this feeling of ambivalence about it, too.

It's Friday night, I had plans to see a movie with a friend, I just called to cancel, the thought of leaving the house doesn't make me happy.

I am content to think I might be in my house all weekend and not leave. (I made plans to go out of town to see family but I just don't have motivation at all.)

I dread running out of milk soon because I know then I'll have to leave the house.

Is this depression, I just feel like I'm in this funk. Or could it be situational, I had a traumatic event a month ago (surprisingly enough it's not a man issue, nothing to do with relationships.)

 

This definitely sounds like depression to me, as I've sufferred from it before and had all those same symptoms. The fact that it's gone on for so long (more than 2 weeks), and the fact that it's connected to a traumatic event (so sorry, that sucks) makes me want to urge you to see a therapist.

No one should have to go through this alone. You've been injured, please get help. And keep posting, please because you will get a lot of support here.

[Island Girl]

Let's put it this way, I have not left the house the past 2 days.

 

A sign of depression but not indicative by itself.

 

There was a situation a month ago which spurred this feeling, and I was sort of feeling it before that.

 

If you were feeling it before that you could have been on a more functioning level of depression but still suffering from it. The trauma could have just made the burden too heavy to carry around anymore.

 

It's Friday night, I had plans to see a movie with a friend, I just called to cancel, the thought of leaving the house doesn't make me happy.

I am content to think I might be in my house all weekend and not leave. (I made plans to go out of town to see family but I just don't have motivation at all.)

I dread running out of milk soon because I know then I'll have to leave the house.

 

Canceling plans with people to stay home alone and not going to see family can be an indicator too. You could be walling yourself off from others. That is also an indicator.

But the running out of milk thing is a REALLY strong indicator.

 

I've been there. And it is easy to fall into - the not going anywhere and not seeing anyone. It is a bad place to get to and even worse the longer you stay there. Getting out does help even if it feels like you don't want to.

Everyone needs time to themselves but days and days of not getting out is not healthy at all. I got into a pattern where I got out to go to work but then home all of the rest of the time. It was hard to snap out of it.

 

Somebody wrote to call on friends to drag you out of the house. It is a good idea. It really is. I wouldn't go clubbing or to a bar - alcohol is a depressant and you certainly don't need that. But get out and go to dinner or to lunch - possibly to a movie just as an escape.

 

If it has been persistent - you mentioned you've had some of this type of feeling before the trauma - you may want to consult with your doctor as well.

 

Also - are you sleeping too much or not enough? That is an indicator and also can have a huge impact on functionality as well.