So... I have serious depression. Have for a long time. And it keeps getting worse. My mother knows it real, but ignores it cause she doesn't know how to handle it (he own words to), my Doctor doesn't take it seriously thinking that all people at 20 has depression and I'll just get over it, my friends think I'm just attention seeking because a lot of them fake depression for attention. I can't see a therapist because they cost way to much money and my parents were never willing to pay that much for me to see one. I have no one to talk to about it. It's driving me insane not knowing how to handle it and having no one to help me. Does anyone know how to deal with depression? The best I can manage to do is to find a way to hide from people when it's bad enough I can't hide it....

What did I just read?

Anyways, dealing with depression is case sensitive. Maybe try to self medicate, kidding.
You should try and see a therapist. Get medical insurance that will cover seeing a therapist. I mean...you are twenty after all. Having your parents take care of you that long will drive any person to depression.

Or you can just get over it. A lot of people think they have depression but it's just them being sad. Stop being sad.

Most cities have some sort of mental health center where you can drop in to talk to a therapist for free, you should try looking around for one. Not talking to anyone at all about it is just going to make it worse; at least if you explain everything to someone else, you feel less of the stress of having to deal with it all on your own. At least you'll have someone who knows how you're feeling, and sometimes that can help quite a bit. The therapist would also take you seriously rather than ignore it or consider it nonexistent, and if you asked, I'm sure they'd prescribe you some anti-depressants which might really help.

If you can't find a place like that, I'm sure there are people you could talk to; friends, family, even other Dollars here. I'm sure a lot of people would be happy to just listen if they knew it would help you.

You should also talk to your mom more seriously about it. If she doesn't know how to deal with it, that's fine, but maybe you could suggest some ways for her to do so. If you think you need to talk to a professional like a therapist, tell her that. If she knows it's real, she'll understand, and even if she might not deal with it how she or you think she should, I'm sure she'll still try to find you help.

1. it's not just sadness, it's real depression.

I can't take anti-depressants with my kidney disease. Also, there are no free therapist around where I live, and they all crazy whacked anyways. I know ppl who've gone to the ones around here. They make people worse. My insurance covers 80% of everything except eye care and dental. And even with that we're so far in medical debt that I have to rely on my parents. I could be working 24-27 and not make enough money to support myself. And try all we can the government wont help us. Actually, I think some of that is lie my mother comes up with to try and keep me at home. I've see the bills and her and my dad's income. We're not rich, but I could support myself. She just doesn't want me to leave home. I can't find a job so its not like I have a choice anyways.

I try to talk seriously with my mother about it. She doesn't want to hear it. The moment I start talking she stops listening to what I'm says. She'll start playing the piano, turn the radio on turn the tv on or just simply walk out of the room. All the friends and family I have are either attention seekers who get mad cause I'm just wanting attention and I need to shut up and listen to the problems they are having. Or they really are having such bad problems in their life I feel horrible making them worry about me.

I feel like maybe it doesn't even matter if I'm depressed. Maybe I'm just a wimp for not just simply getting over it. Depression isn't a real thing anyways right? According to a lot of people it's not. So I am just whining and need to stop. No one should have to hear about my problems and help me deal with them. I should take care of myself like I've always done.... but it's so horribly lonely that way. I'd rather come across as needy and week then to continually feel so alone.....

I see. Personally, I don't think you should assume therapists can't help you based on what you've heard from others. You can't say you won't go to one because they're too expensive and then say no, it's because you think they're all crazy. Consider the fact that people going to therapists might not want to accept help in the first place; my best friend has some serious problems that she had to go to a therapist about, and the therapist said one thing about going to the hospital to see a psychiatrist and that was all it took to make my friend think she was psycho. Make sure you realize that a lot of things can affect someone's opinion on whether or not the therapist is helpful, and them trying to help can often make it worse if the patient's not willing to accept it. The opinions of the people you hear this from aren't professional; if you're really that desperate for help, see the therapist yourself and develop your own opinion. Nothing to lose, right? And it sounds like you're a bit paranoid about your mom, no offense; the fact that you're looking through their income information says something to me, and the fact that you think she's trying to keep you at home is a bit unbelievable. Don't blame your family for the fact that you can't get a job, try to go out and get one.

That's a bit unfair of her. Have you tried talking to your father, or a sibling (if you have any)? I still suggest talking to some of the Dollars here, as I said, I'm sure some would be happy to listen if it would help.

You're making it sound like everyone's out to get you. You have to realize that really, there are people who are willing to listen and try to help you, you just have to give them a chance. If you immediately assume all of your friends will label you an attention seeker, then you'll see them as doing so whether they are or not; and what kind of friends would they be if they did? Find new friends, there's a problem right there. Don't assume all therapists are crazy because of things you've heard, if you really want and need help, you'll be willing to try anything.

Depression is a very real thing; it's a chemical imbalance in the brain. It's not just feeling lonely and unhappy sometimes. As Chrome said, don't be sad. Don't always focus on the negatives of everything, because the only thing that does is make you unaware of all the good things around you. Simple things that you pass by because you're so unhappy, like someone holding the door for you or complimenting you. Nothing is ever all bad. You can't possibly think that wallowing in sadness and self-pity is going to fix anything, can you? You have to help yourself before anyone else can do anything. If you're not willing to talk to a therapist or a friend, if you're going to assume everyone's against you and you're all alone, if you're going to just let yourself give up, you're not going to get anywhere. You have to try to become happy and not expect happiness to just come to you.

If I lived somewhere else I would go see a therapist. But there has not been one time anyone has said the therapist around my town are good. They. fuck. people. up. majorly. I've seen friends go to see them just because they make a deal with another friend who needs to go "If you go, I'll go to.", and come out with so many problems and on five different meds, and having to go see specialist, etc. I don't "go threw" their bills. the freeking leave them out all over the place and I find them while cleaning. And they talk about them. I didn't say my mom wont let me get a job, I can't find one. Kinda no jobs as of late. A lot of places are going out of business and are cutting back on employees, not hiring new ones. And it's not unbelievable able. She flat out told my little sister that she think I should stay at home until I'm at least 25.

My dad doesn't listen either. It makes him feel uncomfortable and he just gets quite and finds a reason to leave. My sister doesn't have time to listen. She's a newly wed with a baby on the way. She has things to do. She talks to me when she can. As for talking to the dollars, that's kinda what I was doing when I made this thread....

Everyone's not out to get me. But my friends either flat out say "you just want attention! I have a real problem here! They guy I like -blah, blah, blah-" (and that's the reason they aren't my friends any more), or, like my bff, they have so much going on I feel bad making them worry about me. My bff's mom had a brain tumor and keeps going into surgery, her fiance is being an asshole, her job is crappy and might be closing soon anyways and she has bills to pay on two houses, etc. If I told her my depression was back she'd freak out and spend hours just worrying if I was ok. That would make me feel so much worse, knowing that she'd one more thing to stress over....

Your mother is clearly a problem.
Ask yourself, and really think about it.
If you were on your own, even if you were just barely getting by, would you be happier than you are now?
As I said, being cooped up for too long is bad for anyone.
If that has absolutely nothing to do with it, why are you depressed anyway?

Oh, I see. In that case, I suppose a therapist is out of the option. Ah, then I apologize, I misunderstood. I thought you meant you were going through their bills because you thought they were lying to you, not the other way around. Do you know why she wants you to stay at home for so long? Maybe it would be better if you could go live with a friend or other family member for a while, if you're having such problems with your family and you can't work them out. I think you should talk to them about it, though, and try to work things out before going to such drastic measures.

I see. Maybe they're just worried about you and don't know how to help. Many people would rather run away from their problems instead of face them and try to fix them, especially when it comes to things that concern those they care about. I can understand that you don't want to be a bother to your sister, but I'm glad you two still talk when she has time. Don't always assume she's too busy for you either, I'm sure she'll make time if she doesn't have it. I know, I mean more of finding someone here you can regularly talk to. Not even necessarily about big problems, just having someone here who you could rant to or even just know is around to listen if you need help.

Hm.. Well, if they disregard your problems so nonchalantly, they certainly aren't to be considered real friends. I completely understand that you don't want to worry for best friend, if I were in your position, I wouldn't, either.

Well dear I have had experience with people of your your condition and in my opinion the best way to cure depression is to go to a retreat or a calming place to think things thoroughly my friend who had the same problem attended a retreat to a Holy Place either your religious or not they will accept you , well my friend met a young pastor there who invited us over to speak with him and after we talked my friend felt better about herself I don't really know whether she was cured of her depression but I know that her aura brightened after that.

Umm I hope that this will help I'm not a doctor but I have had many friends who have been depressed and I'm the happy-go-lucky type

I have no where to go. The dorms are WAY to expensive. And I don't really have any friends left. They all either moved out of town, have no room for me, or I broke it off. Seriously. The world doesn't revolve around if your newest crush likes you or not. -_-

My mom thinks that if she ignores it I'll figure it out for myself (like I've had to do my whole life. I had to teach everything to myself cause she wouldn't). She doesn't need to try and help me get better cause I'll make myself better. She wants me to stay at home cause I do stuff for her. I clean, I cook, I'm somewhat of a doll for her to show off to ppl "look at how my oldest daughter does so well at college." "look at this wonderful thing she does" "look at this to~" but that's only in public. When no ones around I'm the person she takes every last bit of frustration out on. I've her venting post. And there is something I can always be doing wrong no matter what. I don't get why she'd think I could do this by myself. I was a child abused physically and mentally by my biological father for YEARS. WHY would I be able to handle that? Then he tried to find me last December. HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT! I don't wanna see him. Ever. I am scared out of my mind. What if he finds me? Sure I could call the police, providing I CAN if he does find me. I don't know what to do. I need my mother to be there to support me. But no. She acted worried for about 3 days before it started to look obviously put on, then she gave up. She acts like it never happened while I start shaking if I even think about it for to long.

I just don't know what to do any more. My health is getting really bad again. I my be in the hospital again soon, my mother is getting meaner and more controlling every day, school is getting more and more stressful. Then my heath gets even worse. My night terrors start to come back with a vengeance. and now my depression is coming back. I just want it all to just go away for at least five minutes. Just five minutes of peace! But I can't even get that. Even when I sleep. I have dreams of my biological father finding me. Those dreams haunt me to no end. How do you stop dreaming? You don't. No medication can fix that.

Are you just making this up as you go along?

Seriously though, move out. Get your own place. Even if it's a shady, shitty little flat. Get away from your mom because she sounds loony.

This obviously isn't a good situation for you to be in. I honestly suggest getting any job you can get; ask your friends if they know anywhere that's hiring or if they know someone that'll hire you. Get some money and move out. It sounds like your mother's only making things worse, and it doesn't sound like a good environment to be in. Doesn't matter where you go as long as you're away from her, then you can focus on trying to make yourself happier when she's not always around to cause more issues.

. . . . . I'm not making anything up....... I'm going to bed. Night.

I was just asking, don't be upset.

Anyways...
>>13 This.

Goodnight...I hope you have sweet dreams this time...

hey I'm serious about the retreat thing try it out

Ya know. Just being able to vent for once actually helped me a whole hell of a lot. :) I'm feeling better today then I have in months. I think most my depression comes from having to keep everything shut up all the time. Thanks for listening to my rambles :) My mom is in a good mood today to. I put all over the house the "Smile! The world isn't as bad as you think!" -Dollars sticky notes, and it made her smile. I don't know how long she's gonna stay in this good mood. But it's nice while it last.

You need to get out of that house for a while and do stuff that wont cause your mind to wonder. and think about all the bad in your life. Also look at the good in your life. Im glad your having a good day though.

If I had the money I'd go to the beach every weekend. lol. But I'm trying to find ways to get out of the house more. Here is normally the closest I get though other then going to school.

It usually helps to just go a nearby park and get some fresh air for about 15-20 minutes a day. And sometimes you just have to look at all the good that the bads are/can cause in the future and overall, just try your best to be optimistic. Sorry if that didn't help much, but I'm trying my best..^^;

*pat* There There. Mayb you should find a real friend to talk to. The ones who think you are faking are not real friends.

A little easier said then done ^^" all my friends are busy or have their own problems. Guess you guys are all I go. :) Thanks everyone you do help a lot.

I had depression for seven years, and spent most of it drugged up on meds and had three stints in hospital. I was eventually diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Mental illness is real, and terrifying if you suffer from it, but 1 in 4 people will at some point.
In England, where I live, all medical care is free, and so are the shrinks. But they're useless, the majority of them, wherever in the world they are. For seven years I was drugged up to keep me quiet, until I decided enough was enough. I quit seeing the psychiatrists and therapists, spent two months of agony coming off the medication I was addicted to, and created my own therapy.
Depression can be treated with medications, but I advise against long term use - it's addictive and eventually has no effect, therefore dosages are just upped and upped.
What do you love? What are you passionate about?
I'm a writer, so I write my feelings into my books and even my unpublished works such as fanfics. I'm a musician, and though I used to hate the sound of my own voice, I stopped caring and just ENJOYED getting my feelings out and lifting my moods.
The little things help too, always remember them. Whether its cuddling my cats for comfort or repainting my kitchen just to keep my mind going and off the shit, just do something. Don't let yourself linger in the depths of your own darkness. Get out of it, however you can, it may not be as bright as you want it to be, but there's always something to reach for.
As somebody who has attempted suicide twice, died once, and been through it all n my own, i can promise you - tomorrow is always another day, and it's another chance to make it right.
Sorry for long rant, but as someone who totally gets it, I want you to know you are not alone. Keep smiling.

>>24 THANKS :) I love writing and editing other peoples writing the best. I also enjoy baking and cooking (I'm in culinary school) and I love basketball the best (but I can't play due to my health.). I kind of know where my depression comes from. It's learning how to handle it is the problem.... Today was a bad day again... but I did a good job at hiding it from most people.

If you ever need help with your depression, sixbillionsecrets.com has a chat area where you can talk with people that can try to help you or you can relate to them and help each other out. It's not the best solution, but I find it might work. I've suffered from depression for a few years and still do. I really understand you.

As the DOLLARS' motive goes, "Life isn't as bad as you think." It's really true! You can pull through this =)

Depression is a lifelong battle, and it most likely won't go away forever. You can make it through, though, and become the person you want to be. It's really possible ^__^

Hiding it is bad. It'll only make it worse. The best thing you can do is stay active and stay busy. You shouldn't stress yourself though. Instead of sitting around or on the computer, you need to go outside and ride your bike, take a jog, play tag, or do something else active. It releases hormones in your body that make you happy (I think it was dopamine). Staying busy (don't stress yourself doing so) keeps your mind off of whatever is depressing you. Be productive. Write a book. Make a Website. Do some community service work at an animal shelter or something. You're mind will be off of whatever is depressing you and you will feel like you're accomplishing something. It'll help you feel better about yourself.

I spend almost all day running around a bakery. I am so tired by the end of the night that I have no energy to do even more work. I hide it because Chef and people in class get bitchy when your in a bad mood. We have a saying of "leave it at the door". If you don't you called on it. I don't "have the right" to be sad or depressed in school. So, I hide it.

Find someone and talk to him..it's not so easy but it will make you better..! You don't have to keep yourself busy..It ins't make anything better..I think it makes things worse..:/ And I know it's sounds stupid...but crying is a nice way to feel better! Really;)When I feel really depressed I don't want to cry or something..but when I cry I feel MUCH better..! Anyway..find someone and talk to him..! Even in Dollars..but it's better when you talk to a person live!;)

Chef is a girl, and I've talk to her before. She just says "tough threw it". I guess she thinks if I though threw it enough I'll eventually get over it. Maybe she's right. And I don't quite know how to cry. I've spent my whole life being made fun of if I cry that it now takes something pretty major to make me even tear up.
But thank you guys for being so supportive :)

oh sorry..!
I don't know what she said..but depression isn't something you can easily threw...It's a really depressing(?:P) feeling that you must get rid of it..!What do you mean you don't know how to cry..?Haven't you ever felt extremely sad?Haven't you ever felt afraid?There are so many feelings that make somebody cry..there aren't always sad feeling..I've found myself a lot of times touched that I cried because I was so happy and relieved..! Tears are a way to threw away your problems..;)

I do cry when something REALLY bad happens. But, for the most part, I just..... don't cry. Tears just don't come. When my 15 year old cat died, I cried. When my grandparents died, I cried. When people make fun of me, when my mother says things that are so horrible most people ran away, when people I'm not seriously close to die, anything frustrating that a normal person would cry over. A break up. I don't cry. I feel the emotion, but no tears come.

I also go through a depression .. not pretty, change your thoughts! I mean seriously, learn to see the good stuff, buy pretty things, look at the sky, exercise! That helped me a lot to me, take refuge in music salt with your friends, are small things that helped me get ahead, like you, my parents believed it was a temporary thing, I had to go out alone, is a matter of attitude and desire .

Ok first calm down think a moment and think. I have different ways to deal with depression 1 pills( do not do Rhoda I have a problem with them) 2 I try to chear myself up. Try getting a pet or read stuff like books manga comics or write about your troubles on paper and get rid of it

>>34 I have two cats, but one of them is old and hides outside most the time and the other my mom keeps trying to lock up away from me so that the cat will like her more and become her cat. Really, my depression was all gone. Night terrors gone, insomnia gone, anxiety gone. All thanks to my dog Mini-May. a few days after I got her, all that went away. My mother even pointed out how amazing it was that this one dog took care of all my mental problems. But when I started college my parents thought that I wouldn't have enough time to take care of her, and god forbid they do something emotionally helpful for me. So they gave her away. The people she went to live with were ever nice people that Mini did like. But the day she was gone everything came back all at once, and has done nothing but get worse. That's kinda why I'm so down on my parents. For the first time since I was sixth grade I didn't wake up every morning shaking, hallucinated all day from the lack of sleep, and was terrified to fall asleep at night. You would think they could put up with letting my dog out at lunch when they are already home, and feeding her when they get home at night, just so that their daughter, for the first time in eight years, wasn't living in constant fear and depression. But that truly is WAY to much to ask of them.

I can't take medications with my kidneys.

>>33 I do see the good in my life, but theres this weird cloud that seams to cover my mind and I don't know how to get it to go away. I have amazing friends, I go to an awesome school, I live on a farm and can go the the beach every weekend, and I have you guys. :) But it's like this fog covers up my cloud, and even though all that is awesome, some times I can't feel happy about it at all.

I'll just list things up to be short and blunt.
1. Pick bright, fresh colors for your surroundings including clothes, stationery, room, etc. It will brighten your mood (try researching about different colors and their effects to the mind).
2. Laugh and smile a lot, daily. How to: watch comedy shows, read humors, do your hobbies, etc.
3. Be optimistic. See the good in bad things and appreciate them.
4. Spend some time writing good things that happens in your day (5 minutes or so).
Others are given by the other Dollars members.

I think your parents r like mine ( well I have a stepped dad and I like live with my mom) sometimes they get mad because were I go my dogs follow me. Like I said about the manga their r some comedy ones go to manga.anemia.net look up the comedy ones and pick 1 to read

How are you feeling today?Have you been having nightmares or dreams? I suggest considering to stay at a dormitory or a small apartment just to get away from the stress of your house you are in college know a few more years you will graduate are you willing to stay at that house or start saving up now and move to your own place and finally relax

Today was ok. I had a crazy dream last night. It wasn't a bad dream, but it did make me sad once I woke up. While I was dreaming I was really happy though. I'm trying to get a job and either move into the dorms next year or get my own apartment. But I failed a class this term and have to re take it. That's a lot of money, so I might get stuck at home even if I have a job just cause I have to pay that off.

kinda...mite need help too...

GOOD LUK FUS RO DAH

>>13 well all things considered it might take some time but you'll succeed soon sweetie ,failing the class is just an obstacle ,what course are you taking anyway?

>>41 I'm majoring in Applied Science: Baking and Pastry Arts. I failed Speech the first term, had to drop it this term cause I was gonna fail yet again. And I might fail writing. I'm having a hard time dealing with 5hrs in the bakery a day plus extra time I put in, plus academics. My mom keeps giving me really dirty looks. I guess i deserve it. I failed a class twice and might fail a different class. I should have worked harder and done better. It's no bodies fault but mine. I'm just a slacker.

I kinda went through the same thing. When I brought it up with my parents several times, they didn't believe that depression is an actual disease. It is when a person lacks seritonen or dopamine in the brain which causes all the symptoms of depression. So my advice is to find some one who will take you seriously and I think there are some hot lines that might help. Once you find someone who actually believes you have depression, then it will be a lot easier to find help. You can't just "tough" through it because it is an actual disorder. Once you get it treated you will find that you can focus better and have more energy. If you still can't find someone, you can call a hot line.

I hoped this helped. Good Luck!!

:) I think talking to you guys are helping enough. Honestly, I couldn't call a hotline. I have hard time trusting or talking to people. I guess cause we're all dollars, I feel a little.... Idk the word... maybe comfortable? Even if I haven't met you, I feel like you're all really close friends just cause we're all dollars. And dollars are always there for other dollars. It still took kinda me forcing myself to even post this thread. I'm glad I did :) You guys have helped a lot. I've been feeling so much better lately. :)

Have you been feeling better? :) depression is an illness that has no cure, you can only control it.

I've been pretty ok ^^ Thanks for asking~