Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Depressed And Wants Help
Dear Guidance Guy,
I was just wondering some of the things that can be done because I'm pretty certain although I know it's more common in adults that I suffer from clinical depression. Even though I don't show it in emotions inside I constantly feel down and such. I always thought perhaps it was just a phase but I've felt this way for months and months. I was just wondering what things can be done because I'm sure it's a combination of things that constantly cause me to feel depressed and I never considered it anything other than a phase. I just let it carry on until reading an article about it in English and realizing it sounded just like me. I have plenty of things unhappy in my life and problems; maybe a few more than most people but still unsure what to do. Any advice?
Depressed
*** *** ***
Dear Depressed,
Knowing you feel this way is a good start. Many people walk around with a feeling of sadness that doesn't go away over time and they aren't sure what to do about it. If you've felt this way without much of a change over a period of time, there's a good chance you can be classified as having clinical depression.
Many people choose to treat some of the symptoms of depression with medication. A visit to your doctor would be a good start. Tell him or her what you've been feeling. A prescription may help you feel better.
Of course a lot of people who feel sad choose to self-medicate with alcohol and other drugs. This can sometimes bring temporary relief, but the problems are always there when you're done, many times worse. It looks like you haven't chosen that path, which is great.
From a different point of view, many people who are holding back emotions they haven't worked through feel some of the same things you describe. And others know there is something more they can do with their lives. When they aren't living up to their full potential they have the same negative feelings. In your case, it could be any one of these things, or a combination of them.
Finding a good counselor or support group who is willing to listen to you may be a great first step. Feeling bad happens to all of us but it doesn't have to be a life-long burden. You are taking it head on at a young age, which is a great sign things will be better. Meanwhile, try to focus on the good things happening in your life. There are plenty of them, one of which is that you're smart enough to recognize a problem and ambitious enough to ask for help.
All The Best,
The Guidance Guy
I was just wondering some of the things that can be done because I'm pretty certain although I know it's more common in adults that I suffer from clinical depression. Even though I don't show it in emotions inside I constantly feel down and such. I always thought perhaps it was just a phase but I've felt this way for months and months. I was just wondering what things can be done because I'm sure it's a combination of things that constantly cause me to feel depressed and I never considered it anything other than a phase. I just let it carry on until reading an article about it in English and realizing it sounded just like me. I have plenty of things unhappy in my life and problems; maybe a few more than most people but still unsure what to do. Any advice?
Depressed
*** *** ***
Dear Depressed,
Knowing you feel this way is a good start. Many people walk around with a feeling of sadness that doesn't go away over time and they aren't sure what to do about it. If you've felt this way without much of a change over a period of time, there's a good chance you can be classified as having clinical depression.
Many people choose to treat some of the symptoms of depression with medication. A visit to your doctor would be a good start. Tell him or her what you've been feeling. A prescription may help you feel better.
Of course a lot of people who feel sad choose to self-medicate with alcohol and other drugs. This can sometimes bring temporary relief, but the problems are always there when you're done, many times worse. It looks like you haven't chosen that path, which is great.
From a different point of view, many people who are holding back emotions they haven't worked through feel some of the same things you describe. And others know there is something more they can do with their lives. When they aren't living up to their full potential they have the same negative feelings. In your case, it could be any one of these things, or a combination of them.
Finding a good counselor or support group who is willing to listen to you may be a great first step. Feeling bad happens to all of us but it doesn't have to be a life-long burden. You are taking it head on at a young age, which is a great sign things will be better. Meanwhile, try to focus on the good things happening in your life. There are plenty of them, one of which is that you're smart enough to recognize a problem and ambitious enough to ask for help.
All The Best,
The Guidance Guy
# posted by Larry Hochman : 1:01 PM
