TeenHealthFX - Answers - Really Wondering If I Have Depression

Depression / Question
Published: August 23, 2006

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I was really wondering if I have depression, for the past year or so I'm happy when people are around but when they leave I get supper sad and think many times about cutting even putting razors to my wrist. I have also started writing poetry all of them tend to be about suicide. I feel empty alone and just cant shake the feeling

Signed: Really Wondering If I Have Depression

Dear Really Wondering If I Have Depression,

While FX cannot give a definitive diagnosis over the Internet as to whether or not you have depression, we do feel that it would be helpful for you to be evaluated by a mental health professional to obtain an accurate diagnosis as you do have some symptoms of depression. FX does want you to consider a couple of things about how you are feeling. For one, sometimes people do feel happier when around other people and then feel very sad when they are alone. This can be partially due to feeling distracted from any negative thoughts or emotions when others are around, as well as to experiencing a painful loneliness or emptiness when alone. Second, when people do have depression, it is not something that can be shaken off or that they can snap out of. Depression requires treatment from a mental health professional and is usually not something people can just will away all on their own.

The following is a list of possible symptoms associated with depression. Keep in mind that you do not have to experience all of these symptoms every second of every day in order to be diagnosed with depression.

You feel sad and cry a lot – and it doesn’t seem to go away.
You feel guilty for no real reason.
You’ve lost your confidence or feel negatively about yourself.
You often have a negative attitude towards things.
It often seems like you have no feelings – that you are indifferent to things.
You no longer feel like doing things you used to find pleasurable.
You tend to isolate and want to be alone.
It’s hard to make up your mind, to concentrate, and to remember things.
You get irritated often; little things make you lose your temper and you often overreact.
Your sleep patterns change – you either sleep more or have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Your eating habits change – you lost your appetite or are eating more than usual.
You feel restless and tired most of the time.
You think about death, feel like you’re dying, or have suicidal thoughts.

FX recommends that you print out this answer and check off the symptoms on the list above that apply to you. Then show the list to your parents, a teacher, a school counselor, your family physician, or any other trusted adult. Let them know about the feelings and behaviors that are concerning you so that arrangements can be made for you to meet with a mental health professional in order to be properly diagnosed and treated.

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 973-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area.

You can also contact the Self-Injury Hotline (information only, not a crisis line) at 1-800-DON’T-CUT, 1-800-366-8288.

If you get to the point that you are seriously considering suicide or are afraid of your impulses then you need to seek help immediately. You can call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey you can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline, 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Signed: TeenHealthFX