How do you know if you are just down or are actually depressed?

Nottsdoglover

For the last few weeks I have been quite down due to issues at work. I can't get myself started with things that need to be done. I should be applying for jobs, doing paperwork, cleaning, ironing, booking a holiday. The days are slipping past and i just want to pull the duvet up over my head and lie there.

I force myself to go to work, and to smile and whilst I am there I am ok. At home i sit and stew. My partner is great and he does understand as he has had similar happen to him, but i can't shake it. My daughters keep asking am I ok.

I have never felt like this, I know that the job thing will be sorted either way by the middle of June but i can't stand the thought of feeling like this for another month. I keep mentally shaking myself as I know others are going through much worse but I can't help how I feel.

I have no idea why i am writing this really.

jenniewb

I'm not going to tell you if I think you are depressed or not, because I am not a medic of Psychiatrist and because that's not what those of us using MSE are allowed to do. But if you do have a suspicion that something isn't right and can't seem to make yourself (safely) feel better then the best person to go to initially is your GP.


Your GP should be able to rule out a few things- they may run a few blood tests or ask a few questions about severity and duration of what is happening and if they are at all unsure they will refer you to a Psychiatrist.


A Consultant Psychiatrist will be able to formally diagnose and offer more specialised treatment be it via drugs or via therapy of which there are many types, this is the person you can ask lots of questions to because they should know why they are offering whatever treatment they are and what the reasoning behind that is.


If your GP or the Consultant Psychiatrist feel you don't have depression or that it's lifestyle based, it is something they will be able to tell you, if your unsure, ask them, they are professionals, depression has a few clear diagnosable points and only if these are something you have experienced will they diagnose the condition. If they do, it's not a life sentence, many people (1 in 4) experience depression-and that's just those who hold their hand up and ask for help, many for whatever reason don't. Any mental health condition can force you to re-think your life and the way you do things but IMO this is generally a positive thing and can help your general work/life balance anyway, it's normally just common sense stuff like allowing yourself time to recharge and talk with friends or family rather then trying to pretend everything is alright.


Please don't feel that you have to bottle things up or just tell yourself to pull-yourself-together, mental illness is like physical illness in the way that you can't just tell a broken back to mend itself, it doesn't work like that, it takes time and energy and a lot of effort and support to recover from most severe illnesses, mental illness is no different in that respect.

whichwhydoIturn

OP , the reply is spot on , I am being treated for depression and have been for 8 years now .
So I know how it feels to have a duvet day thought or a saggy day as I call them as I just hang around
I struggle to get to work just seems daunting but my colleagues understand
I'm trying to get belief in myself that others have of me .
I'll get there , you too will fund sunnier days than you're seeing now , honestly .
Take care , make the most of virtual friends here
XX