So over the past several months I've been feeling totally empty and I'm not sure why. I have a lot of good things in my life but I can never seem to feel happy no matter what situation I'm in. I can't tell if it's depression or not. Help please! Thanks in advance, I love your blog so much :) x
Hey :)
I’m glad that you love my blog, that makes me feel amazing :D
As you know, I cannot diagnose you with anything or say for sure what could be going on here. I am urging you to speak to your doctor about your concerns for possibly having depression. I can though, offer you some helpful advice in hopes it helps you!
If you think you may be experiencing some of the symptoms of depression, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor about it. When booking your appointment inform your doctor you may need extra time to discuss these matters. For tips on what to discuss with your doctor click here.
Your doctor is a good place to start. He or she can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether depression is the underlying cause. You can get a head start by creating your own list of symptoms with the Symptom Checklist. It allows you to build a list of symptoms that you can rate based on how each impacts your ability to function in everyday life. When completed, bring it with you to your doctor to discuss your responses.
If your doctor thinks you may have depression they may suggest a course of treatment or may refer you to a specialist, such as a psychiatrist or a therapist. If you do not already have a primary care provider, ask your friends or family members to recommend one.
If you have been receiving treatment for depression but still don’t feel like your old self, make sure you discuss this with your doctor. Let him or her know what symptoms you are still experiencing and how they are impacting your life.
It is a good idea to prepare for the visit. Create a list of questions you may want to ask, along with some notes about your symptoms and medical history.
Source
What does the doctor look for to make a depression diagnosis?
A doctor can rule out other conditions that may cause depression with a physical examination, personal interview, and lab tests. The doctor will also conduct a complete diagnostic evaluation, discussing any family history of depression or other mental illness. Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms, including how long you’ve had them, when they started, and how they were treated. Your doctor will ask questions about the way you feel, including whether you have any symptoms of depression such as the following:
Sadness or depressed mood most of the day or almost every day
Loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable
Major change in weight (gain or loss of more than 5% of weight within a month) or appetite
Insomnia or excessive sleep almost every day
Physical restlessness or sense of being rundown that is noticeable by others
Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness or excessive guilt almost every day
Problems with concentration or making decisions almost every day
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, suicide plan, or suicide attempt
Helpful Links:
Preparing for Appointments
how to plan ahead
what to take to a hospital/doctors appointment: the 7 essentials you’ll be glad you packed
7 ways to rock your hospital appointments
download some symptom tracking apps
Navigating the Appointment
a doctor’s view of patients with chronic disease
diagnosis - at the doctor’s office
“can we talk?” - communicating with your doctor
NIH - talking to your doctor about specific conditions
communicating with your doctor (UCSF medical center)
communicating with your doctor (canceradvocacy.org)
questions to ask your doctor
Getting a Diagnosis
diagnosis - a how-to of how to get one
diagnosis, what diagnosis?
6 secrets to getting the right medical diagnosis
how to get the right diagnosis - why doctors goof
Healthy Ways to Cope with Depression:
Teen Depression: A Guide for Teenagers
How to Deal with Teenage Depression
Coping Skills May Reduce Teen Depression
Tips for Coping With Depression
Depression (Coping)
10 Ways to Cope With Depression
Helpful recovery tips about depression:
Talk to one person about your feelings.
Help someone else by volunteering.
Have lunch or coffee with a friend.
Ask a loved one to check in with you regularly.
Accompany someone to the movies, a concert, or a small get-together.
Call or email an old friend.
Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
Schedule a weekly dinner date.
Meet new people by taking a class or joining a club.
Confide in a counselor, therapist, or clergy member.
How to survive depression Tip 1
Accept and fully admit you have depression. The first step to surviving depression is to admit you have it. If you feel sad, are not motivated, feel unhappy and a physical tiredness, it is possible that you have depression. If you have had it before, you know when you have it! Accepting reality is often the first step to moving through it. You’d be surprised how many people will not admit what they are experiencing when they are experiencing it. Accepting what is happening can help you mobilize the resources to get through it.
How to survive depression Tip #2
Understand that depression is not a sign of weakness. There are many reasons why we get depressed, but being weak is not one of them. The idea that you should not be depressed, or that there is something wrong with you because you are, is going to create more unnecessary suffering. Is this belief going to help you get better? NO! Challenge your beliefs, don’t fight your feelings.
I often have people in my office who will say “ I shouldn’t be depressed, or I have no reason to be depressed.” They feel guilty and bad because they are depressed and have depressed thoughts. Is this helpful? No. It’s important not to just admit and accept that you have depression, but stop beating yourself up about it. Stop judging yourself. This will not help you to get better.
How to survive depression Tip #3
Almost all depression is temporary; most depression will remit on its own, although therapy and medication can help tremendously. Learning to tolerate depression while keeping in mind that it’s likely to pass can be a helpful strategy. Many of my clients will arrive and say “ I can’t stand being depressed! I can’t get things done, I can’t sleep, I can’t eat.”
Learn to be gentle with yourself and your depression. Insisting that things be different and imagining that you cannot handle it will not help. This isn’t permanent. The mind may trick us into thinking that somehow struggling with this will force us to feel better. It won’t. Telling yourself it is unbearable does not cure depression. Learning how to tolerate it will be more helpful.
How to survive depression Tip #4
Don’t take the advice of people who tell you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. These people don’t understand that if you could do that, you would. Depression is not a result of being lazy. It’s not a result of being unfocused or undetermined.
How to survive depression tip #5
Work though it.
Set small goals for yourself. Focus on what you can do and push yourself a little further. Don’t expect yourself to do an incredible number of tasks all at once. Don’t overload yourself. Never give up and give in to the urge to do nothing entirely.
Understand that you are depressed. If you were physically ill would you force yourself to do things that you were too sick to do? Be realistic about what you can accomplish and push yourself to do small tasks you can reward yourself for. If you can’t make dinner every night, ask for help, but push yourself to do it twice a week. If you don’t want to get out of bed at all, get out of bed and do one task. Walk around the block once if you can’t walk five miles! These small steps will lead to a greater sense of the ability that you can come out of this. Each small step can grow into a larger step.
Challenge your thoughts that make you feel depressed. Don’t argue with them, but question the validity of them. You do not have to believe them. When you are depressed you see the world through a negative lens. Work on paying attention to and challenging your thoughts. Pick a time of day when you can find the energy to do this task. Write down the thoughts you have that lead to feelings of unhappiness. Any time you use words like always or never there is an opportunity to challenge yourself.
Are you really always making mistakes? No. Are you really the worst person in the world? No. Recognizing these thoughts as a symptom of your depression, and reminding yourself that these are not true can be a helpful exercise.
Surround yourself with people that support and help you feel safe and worthwhile. Loved ones who are understanding and supportive can help tremendously. You can ask them to help out with the tasks that are overwhelming, you can talk about your feelings with them, and you can seek encouragement from them.
Depression Links:
Coping with Suicidal Thought
10 Tips on How to Work Through Feelings of Social Isolation
8 Tips to Overcome Loneliness
Tips On Dealing With Depression In College
Antidepressants: Selecting one that’s right for you
What to expect with antidepressants
Finding Therapy, Doctors, & Medication
NeedyMeds.org
Something Fishy - How will I pay?
Mental Health America - How do I find treatment?
Free/Cheap Medication
The Medicine Program
Find a Therapist
Good Therapy.org
Insurance Issues
Qualities and Skills of a Good Counselor
The Difference Between a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Therapist & Counselor
Hope this helps, keep me updated? xx