Depression (major depression)

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• October 3, 2010 12:44 p.m.

  i think im deppressed and i've considered suicide a couple times, i've told my parent, my family, and a few friends. i've seen doctors but the mental health program here sucks and they say they can't help me unless im pretty much pointing a gun at my head, but i don't want to die i just want to be happy for once, what should i do?

  - gail

• August 14, 2010 2:26 a.m.

  I am 15 and I think I might have had depression since the beginning of freshman (last) year. My life is so perfect and nothing is at all wrong. Besides it's usually very mild. I don't want to tell my parents and make them worry. Can you get over depression on your own?

  - rose

• July 26, 2010 10:50 a.m.

  Ashley, what happened on March 4, 2010 at 6:32 pm? I hope you'll consider talking to an adult you trust. Did you read Suzanne's post, just below yours? As a mother, I think she had some really good advice about looking for that trusted adult who can help you. It's too bad your friends parents were not helpful, but I know someone will be. I'm sure it will be hard at first, but I hope that finding someone who supports you will help you find the help you need. You deserve better than this. I wish you luck and love.

  - --DaughterSisterMotherTeacherFriend

• July 13, 2010 2:43 a.m.

  I am only 13 and I have been harrassed by my friend for four years and I lost my best friend and I thought I really loved him and everything and everyone was turning against me and I couldn't put up with all the stress from life so I became depressed and had thoughts of suicide and sadly I actually attemped suicide. I have only told my friends for help, no adults but my friends mom and dad found out and now I can't hang out with her. Depression sucks and it takes so much out of your life. I thought I was happy for a while but when I think about the rude comments I've recieved I became depressed again. I wish I could go back and change everything before my depression started march 4,2010 at 6:32 pm.

  - Ashley

• July 9, 2010 8:56 p.m.

  I have a 15 year old who has suffered from very intense depression for two years. She had thoughts of suicide. She would not tell me or her dad (later on she expressed to me she thought I would be furious with her). As I have read some of the blogs this seems to come up alot, where teenagers DO FIND THE COURAGE to tell their parents, and they do get mad at their child or blow them off. This makes me extremely angry because it shows a lack of psychological knowledge on the parents part. I want to tell all of you teenagers that your depression is REAL and that does not make you defective in any way. If your parents make you feel like crap, then PLEASE think about who you can talk to who will treat you with respect. An aunt, friend, teacher you connect to, just somebody!!! Think about this and I know someone will pop into your mind to talk to. Please talk!!!!! My daughter poured her heart out to a trusted teacher and she got the help she needed. Depression does not have to be a part of your life. Take that first step and talk to someone. Chances are you will be understood and taken seriously. If your parents just don't "get it" believe me, somebody else will and you will be on the road to recovery to get this emotional pain out of your life. Thank you for reading this long blog.

  - Suzanne

• June 15, 2010 5:05 a.m.

  Following on from my previous comment, the only thing that I would definitely be sure of is that I NEVER want to have children, EVER. Why? It'd be so ungratefully selfish if I did; going through all that I have, I fear it wouyld be hereditary. Plus, I'm crap with kids so no, it wouldn't work out.

  - No name given

• June 15, 2010 5:01 a.m.

  Don't know what to do no more. I'm only 18 but I've been suffering from depression since before my mid-teens. I was so badly bullied at school and didn't tell no one, which I very much regret. Then it seems like almost everyone in school turned against me for no reason. I started to get so stressed that I left school with terrible grades, never completing assignments and having to drop out of college cos of stress incontinence. That was over a year ago and I thought I was improving but now I've become sooooo lazy it's unbelieveable. I DON'T mean to be, it's just difficult to beat. Counselling is crap - the many I've seen over the years. They're nice and all, but it don't work. Doctors and their medications are even shittier. I feel pretty much stuck, even though there's so much I want to achieve yet when I try to, it's just bloody impossible. Hope I'm not like this forever. I'm also alsways feeling guilty for shit that's irrelevant to me; stuff that happened before I was even born. It seems there's no direction, no hope, no point. :((((((((((((

  - No name given

• May 6, 2010 3:22 p.m.

  andepression are harmfull..they have done damaged to an area of my brain causing me pain and damaged to mybody. i would not recommend these pills to any.there is no cure for what these pills have done to me.

  - No name given

• May 6, 2010 3:18 p.m.

  I WENT FOR HELP FOR MY DEPRESSION .THEY GAVE ME ANDEPRESSIONS TO TAKE PLUS A SERIOUS OF OTHER PILLS TO HELP MY DEPRESSION.ALL THESE SO CALLED HELP FULL DRUGS HAVE DONE IS TO CAUSE DAMAGED TO AN AREA OF MY BRAIN/ I NOW STILL HAVE DEPRESSION PLUS PAINFULLSIDE EFFECTS THAT ARE WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THERE IS NO CURE FOR THESE SIDE EFFECTS MY BRAIN HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY PERCRIBE DRUGS FOR MY DEPRESSION. I AM NOW SLOWLY TAKING MY SELF OFF THEM.BUT THE HARM THEY DONE TO ME ARE HERE TO STAY.

  - L JAY

• April 29, 2010 7:54 p.m.

  im only 13 and have tried commiting suicide i dont know what got into me but everything felt wrong and i couldnt take it antmore.

  - someone

• April 8, 2010 1:54 p.m.

  I'm almost 14 and started having symptoms of depression about 2 months ago. My parents are have plenty of worries so I haven't made much effort in telling them. The fact that they will probably just listen but not do anything about it is what makes me hesitate. I've probably had it for longer, but it's gotten worse in the past few weeks. I wish someone could understand it...

  - -Anonymous

• March 24, 2010 5:32 p.m.

  I am 40 yrs old and have suffered from bipolar disorder (cyclothymia) since I was a teenager. I started taking meds in my 30's. Even now, most of my days are down, some are up, rarely do I feel "normal". That is a good day. I think one of my children, who is 13, is manifesting signs of depression. I will say that before medication my world was gray, no emotions, no ambition, no energy. I have seen an improvement with meds and PRAYER. I have an appointment for my son now with a psychologist. I don't want him to suffer for all the years I did. This is a disease that needs treatment. Please get help if you think that yourself or your loved one is showing symptoms. It does not go away. You don't grow out of it. It can't be explained away. And prayer really does help too.

  - J

• March 22, 2010 9:34 p.m.

  I'm 15, I just started experiencing many of these symptoms. The smallest things can make me start balling my eyes out. One of the most painful feelings I experience is feeling like I'll never get what I deserve. I play varsity tennis and my school average is a 99.5% and I'm still somewhat commited to everything I do. I feel like there is no point anymore for me to work as hard as I do if no one praises me, if I continue to be ignored or if my constant effort will continue to go unnoticed by my parents, coaches and teachers.

  - No name given

• March 21, 2010 12:28 a.m.

  I have suffered from severe depression for about 3 1/2 years and I can't STAND it! I'm almost 16, and my parents have gotten my sister, whom I trusted, into thinking that I cut for attention, and it makes me cry because thats not what I want! I just want some help but my parents refuse, and think I'm a brat...I don't know what to do, social services just blows me away like a leaf in the wind!

  - Jillian

• March 3, 2010 12:14 p.m.

  I have suffered from chronic depression for years. However, with the help of a good psychiatrist, I function quite well. However, I do know the most depressed I ever was, was as a senior in high school. When you are a teenager everything that is bad in your life looks permanent. It truly isn't! If your parents won't help you, mine wouldn't, get help elsewhere - a school counselor, priest or pastor - someone out there will help you. Good luck to all of you.

  - Patsy

• February 26, 2010 11:08 p.m.

  I am the mother of a depressed 20 year old. His symptons started years ago and he had taken Paxil for awhile. The Paxil appeared to help but he thought he could "kick" it on his own. He stopped the paxil at 15, and now at 20 he can't hold a job, won't go out, has no friends. He sits in his room or sleeps all day..Please if your children show signs of depression GET THEM HELP! This is serious and not to ever be taken lightly.

  - No name given

• February 19, 2010 10:32 a.m.

  I don't know where to start.I'm 37 and my son took his life 10 months ago. He was 18. Never in a million years did anyone know he was depressed, or suffering. He was always smiling, and having a good time. He was moody as most teenagers can be, but never anything alarming. His best friends never saw it coming.When you feel like life is changing and you don't know what to do.. please talk to someone.My son had a great life.But when your 18 and everything is changing and you don't know what to do, it can be over whelming. Since his death, I myself have been on a grief journey,which has lead me to being depressed, something I never experienced in my life. I knew I needed more help than just praying, counseling and talking to close friends. I needed medication. And it saved my life. Please, never give up. You maybe one person in this world, but to one person you are their world. My life will never be the same, but I will make the most out of the time I'm blessed to have. If you are thinking of taking your life.. please get help..you are here for a reason!

  - Melissa

• February 12, 2010 12:12 a.m.

  I am a 46 yr old mother of 4 beautiful children. I myself have suffered from depression since I believe age 13. I only started on medication at age 22 approx. I first and foremost want to say that not only talking to someone, but that it's someone you feel comfortable with. I highly suggest a psychologist, if possible, and even then you need to feel comfortable with them. Find one that actually talks back to you, not just sit there and say uh-huh, ok, I see! Sometimes you have to go to a few to find the right fit. Also true with medication, a person may have to try different ones, and the meds take a good 3-4 weeks to start working. But don't give up, I still have good days and bad days, but I have learned that the MIND is a powerful thing. I also want to say that my 15 yr old daughter decided to go live with her dad, because who knows why for sure, but I had to let her make her own decision and now she regrets it. She was on the B Honor Roll when she lived with me and now shes getting D's and F's. She complains to me that she is having pains in her chest and can't concentrate. As a parent, I feel helpless because she is 2 hrs away and her dad doesn't believe in depression. Anyway, I was just reading some of the comments and felt a need to comment. Depression is REAL, and if a child cries out for help they better be listened to. Please get help somewhere, somehow...

  - Sara

• February 10, 2010 1:50 p.m.

  a very close family member of 16 suffers from PAS parent alienation syndrome. the parents are divorced and the absentee parent is the culprit. he has poisioned the child against the other parent. The child is now in counseling to help her sort out the distortion and lies she has been fed. She had suffered depression. Hopefully all kids who experience this. recognize this as atypical of divorce and get help for it.

  - anyone

• February 8, 2010 5:02 p.m.

  im 15 and i got beat up by 5 girls in september whu i new and i thought 2 of them were my friends. & eva sinse then im not the same. i alwys feel alone, depressed, everything and i hate it and dont know what to do. i got councilling in school for it ih helps a bih buhh my mental state is not good. i act like everythings fine but its not and the slightest thing can get me down and i never used to get angry i used to be so calm and now im nott:( i hate it can anyone help me? or give advice.

  - pj15

• February 1, 2010 7:13 a.m.

  Im 18, I have felt depressed quite often but the feelings come and go. I've felt like this for about 2-3 years now, I havent talked to my parents about it because my parents are the kind of parents that would say suck it up or it'll pass, but it hasnt. I've somewhat talked to my best friend about it and I keep telling her that im going to make a doctors appointment but I dont know what to say or what to do to make that happen and without my parents knowing. Im tired all the time, i go to bed at about 11pm wake up at 6am then as soon as i get home i take a 2-3 hour nap along with sleeping alll day at school, i have lost interest in a lot of things and i cant concentrate in school, its gotten bad to where im dropping out in a week. I just would like some advice on what to do....

  - nicole

• January 28, 2010 3:16 p.m.

  i'm 14 and have all the symptoms for atypical depression and i have done for about a year now, i've had suicidal thoughts but i don't know if i'm just being silly or if there is something wrong with me. i find it hard to talk too people and managed to open up to my best friend who i no longer see anymore. i have tried slitting my wrists a few times and nobody seems to understand. a lot of stuff has happened this year to me and i dont know if it's just the fact that i've been putting on a brave face for so long, has anybody got any advice?

  - ..

• January 24, 2010 5:49 p.m.

  Hi, im a 15 year old girl, and i have manic depression otherwise know as bipolar, this type of depression is when you get random burst of depression, and the littlest thing can set it off, or sometimes i just get random depression. When other people ask, "Why are you drepressed?" i say i dont know, it frustrates me that i have to live with this, i noticed symptoms of my condittion when i was 13, and for a whole year told, no one, then opend up to my friends and i scared some of my firends so much that i lost some off them, When i was 14 i had sucidal actions, and thats when i realized i had to tell my family... my point being i hate depression, im not trying to sound whiny, but i wish i was i could live as a normal teen instead of feeling depressed.

  - A girl

• January 14, 2010 1:05 p.m.

  Hi, I'm the mother of a 16 year old depressed teenager who also suffers from social anxiety and school refusal. Since noticing most the above symptoms I have taken my son to see our GP. My son found it very difficult to explain about the way he felt becasue it is very difficult to explain when you are feeling low and not good. But with our support and the GP's understanding we have now managed to get him the help he needed from the mental health service. Don't give up and know that you don't have to feel this bad forever. There is a lot of people out there who can and want to help. Trust someone with your feelings... friends, teacher, relative, parent or try your GP. It is worthwhile and noone has to go through this by themselves, but you have to make the first step. Ask for help. If there isn't someone you feel you can trust phone a helpline like childline. It can get better. all the best to all.

  - Urs

• December 23, 2009 10:35 p.m.

  Me and my dad does not get along anymore. He is not very nice to me he gives me things but they dont change how i feel towards him. I'm sick from somatic pain from depression. I'm seeing atherapist, currently but my pain is not going away. I'm only 15 years old.Do you have any suggestions that can help me

  - Brendon