Ok, so this is a bit hard for me to explain, but I really really need your help. I think I may have depression but I don't know how to tell. I've been feeling really bad about everything been way more susceptible to just burst into tears for no apparent reason and nothing seems fun anymore. I was looking on some sites about depression and the symptoms basically fit the way I feel perfectly. I just don't really know how to tell if I'm just being stupid or if I actually need help. I find it really hard to tell people things, especially my parents so I don't know who I can talk to about it. Does anyone have any suggestions? All input appreciated!!!! Thanks

Hmm...
I must admit sometimes I have the same feelings, more or less. I don't really know why. It's just that all of a sudden, I got pissed off by most of everything, by everyone, even myself. I avoided humans as best as I could. I even had the tendency to hurt myself a few times. And, before I knew it, everything had been back to normal again.
That's how I always live.

But hell, I didn't type it here to ask you to do just like I did. Every person has his way to express his depression. My way, surely, isn't healthy enough. Still, it did help me, little by little, and now I'm okay - just okay, meaning not too good but not so bad, either.

You too, do whatever you want to do; bursting into tears or anything, just do whatever things that make you feel good and human-ed again! You could spend endless time enjoying your bathtub while thinking about your life and such. Or maybe you'd love to go to a big bridge without much people passing by, yell out loud everything you'd hold in your heart. Or you can write all the things you have in mind, into a diary or something. Anything...
Just make sure you'll never feel wrong when doing it.


I hope you'll figure it out somehow...

Have you seen all of those commercials for anti-depressants? That's basically what depression feels like. I've had people accuse me of lying because everything I've said has sounded like that.

Basing this opinion on what I just read, I don't think you have it. When I had depression, I had to will to get up. No will to do anything. I simply went throguh the steps of a normal life. I got up, ate, did what needed to be done that day, and went to sleep. I had to force myself to get up, and the smallest things would throw me into a crying fit. I made a C on a test, I broke down. I got a zero on my homework, I broke down. My dad's mad at me, I broke down. I'd litterally cry myself to sleep at night. Major depression is like that, except you won't get up. This fact that you posted this means that you have clinical depression if you have it at all. I recommend a psychologist or psichiatrist and ask them what they think.

On another note. I recommend that you don't seek treatment until you try this.
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There's a process in your brain called the Dopamine reward system. If you didn't know, Dopamine is the main of the four hormones in the brain that I call "happy hormones" and it is the only one that's only purpose is to make you happy.

There are several things that cause a release in Dopamine. This is how the Dopamine reward system starts. When you do something that releases dopamine, your mood improves. Things that cause this are exercise, chocolate, looking at someone with a proportional face (basically someone that's hot), or smiling. I'm sure there's more, but those are the only things that I've been told.

When I say exercise, I don't mean actually lifting weights or running. While this does also help, it could be anything. Go play tag with a friend. Go take a jog with your dog. While your active, it counts. This also helps because it improves your body shape, which makes you feel better about yourself. It also just leaves you too exhausted to give a fuck by the end of the day.

Eating chocolate releases dopamine, but I don't have much else to say about it. I guess that's why girls like chocolate when they're depressed.

Looking at someone that's hot helps when you make eye contact. Why this works? Your brain must be rewarding you for catching the attention of a hot person. This is why people stare at hot people.

Smiling helps a lot. It's also the easiest to do when you can't do the others. The more you smile, the more dopamine released, the happier you are, and the cycle goes on.

I haven't heard this with the Dopamine reward system, but it's proven that people with pets live longer happier lives. You feel accomplished. It helps to feel unconditionally loved by your pet. I've seen people cheer up at the cite of a cute cat or dog or whatever. Cute animals helps.

My advice? Get a dog and run with it twice a day. IT's good for the dog and you. Get one from the shelter. These dogs will love you unconditionally because you literally just saved them from a hell hole. Then you're active and you have the cute pet for double dopamine. When you're at school or something, then you just smile. It feels weird at first to smile when your not happy, but it helps pretty quickly. Try to smile, laugh, or listen to a good joke. If you have a hard time smiling for no reason, then try to find a good joke to make you laugh.
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I have an ongoing theory that may types of depression can be solved through that. I believe that less people would be diagnosed with depression if they did that.

Scientists believe that depression is becomming more common, and will soon be the most common mental disorder in first world countries and the second most common in second world countries. I believe that this is mainly due to the stress of everyday life. Stresses such as bills, work, family, etc. cause many issues, and almost everyone I know who has depression could be healed through this method.

Something else that might work is eating healthier. Believe it or not, my depression was solved by simply changing what vitamines I get in a day and how much of them I get.

I'll probably add that into my Dopamine Reward System thing eventually, but now you'll just have to stick with me.

I wrote a thread about something similar to this a while back called the "BLAH" feeling. It's where you feel numb to your core and it starts to bubble other emotions, like depression and the need to cry. In this case, you either need to go to a psychologist, or cure it yourself. Find something, anything that makes you happy, You could find/ think about your lover, Find something that makes you laugh. I would think about the good things in life in general and go on form there. Like the beautiful things in life and how u can protect/save it. Also think of how to make the bad things better. We are the dollars! That's our job!^^ The vision f bad things turning good makes me happy! And this won't last forever. Or maybe I'm wrong and this ISN'T similar to what your feeling. Either way this is my advice.

Thanks everybody for your advice, I will be sure to try some of the methods mentioned, particularly yours Leigha Moscove :) I already own a dog, and love it to bits, so I'll really try to take it out more...better than eating that disgusting stuff you call chocolate (yuck!)