depression.....please answer?

Question

depression.....please answer?

Answer 1

One reason what you are reading may be confusing is because many authors are now pointing out to the general public that the chemical imbalance idea about depression has never been proven. Nobody knows what causes depression to this day. The drug companies widely publicized the chemical imbalance idea, but it was only ever a hypothesis, and no evidence was found to support it, that stood the test of time. So - the upshot, nobody knows what causes depression.



other stuff that is coming out is that antidepressants are working thru placebo effect - they are totally ineffective for mild to moderate depression (except for their benefit as a placebo) but they have risks and side effects that are serious. In severe depression, they may help a little bit, or not at all, the data are not clear. The trouble is that the drug companies jiggered the study designs and data to make it LOOK like their meds help a lot, and now other researchers area analyzing the old data and reporting the distortions.



However, it sure sounds like you have depression. I think you should see a counselor. For me, it was sexual abuse that messed me up, and I went on to get bipolar disorder, and antidepressants made the bipolar much, much worse so I got disabled by it. I was sorta functioning before I took meds. I finally gave up on meds after 15 years of useless pills that mostly made me worse, and the symptoms that made me most suicidal went away (I am still depressed, but suffering less). So give the counselor option a good try, and be wary of medications. It turns out MOST medical research might be crap - check out articles in newseek and the Atlantic about John Ioannidis. The medical research distortions are not just in psychiatry - they are everywhere, and you dont' want to be a guinea pig. For me, the meds derailed my life just like drug abuse could have, and the same happened to my brother.



Therapy can be VERY effective, and if you have abuse issues, you need help, that is why you are having all these problems. Some people get all these problems anyhow. some northerners get these problems every winter, due to seasonal affective disorder, and a light box helps them. exercise helps most people with depression, and spending time with friends, even when you don't want to, is likely to help.



all the best. You need to tell your parents, because you need professional help.

Answer 2

"Chemical imbalance" is a myth. It is a handy catch-phrase that drug companies use to sell their product. There is no scientific evidence anywhere to prove what a correct balance or imbalance in the brain is so treating it with a drug is useless, fails to achieve results and is highly dangerous as well. And even if there was a way to prove an imbalance, it would be a symptom not a cause. http://www.cchrint.org/pdfs/Pseudoscience.pdf



All depression is a morale issue (this is a provable scientific fact.) The categorization of different types of depression comes from psychiatrists opening up a new avenue to sell drugs to the public and sound important and scientific; mental illnesses are voted into and out of existence by psychiatrists. All depression is basically the same low level of morale to a greater or lesser degree and people act this out differently because they are individuals so it really makes no difference what you label it. Since all forms of depression are curable with the same technique, the difference between types of depression is about as important as the difference between blades of grass.



Here's the deal: When people are at higher levels of morale, they are active & successful. Below that, they merely exist and get by. Below that, they become illogically angry or violent toward others. Below that, they become illogically sad, fearful or depressed. Below that, they become illogically self-destructive to the point of doing clear and obvious harm to themselves. Many things can help to raise morale, but what actually drives your morale down are all of the mentally and physically painful experiences in your life. Dianetics is a scientific technique that allows you to permanently and safely rid yourself of these painful experiences and renew the vigor for life that you once had. http://www.dianeticsbook.com/depression/natural-cures-depression-anxiety.html

Answer 3

A previous answer follows, modified for you: It's alright to OCCASIONALLY tell a close friend that you are feeling down at the moment, and ask if it happens to them, and what do they do about it. Professional advice is to go out with friends regularly, even if you don't feel like it much. In "Feeling Good - the new mood therapy" by David D. Burns, M.D., from your bookstore, or Amazon.com, he recommends that you estimate beforehand how pleasureable it will be, out of 10. Then, some few hours after returning, rate the actual event. Keep a journal for this, and the other things he advises, and examine your progress. There is a relationship between melatonin, which is produced by the brain during sleep, and the neurotransmitter, serotonin, which has been shown to be low in people suffering from depression. Although pre-teens need around the same sleep time as adults, teens may need up to 9.5 hrs. Many teens are naturally predisposed to, or prefer to stay up late, and get up late, but societal, and school demands are such as to often preclude this. Some schools are changing their timetables to accomodate this, but they are, so far, few, and far between. Get bright light on awakening, preferably for 2 hrs, but at least 30 mns, to reset your circadian rhythm. It's also a good idea to get bright light again in the evening, so you cover a daily span of 14 hrs; say 7 - 7.30 AM and 7.30 - 9 PM, then reduce light levels to simulate approaching darkness, in preparation for sleep. Depression impairs cognitive functioning, and can cause insomnia, which is addressed on pages 1, and O, at http://your-mental-health.8m.com/blank_25.html Take the depression quiz at http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au or http://www.real-depression-help.com/depression-test-for-children.html and print the result. Take to a doctor, for tests. I advise against the use of antidepressants for those less than around 24 -25, due to their increased risk of suicide, homicide, or aberrant behaviour. If antidepressants are offered, say "thank you very much, doctor", and pocket the prescription, but don't fill it until giving the alternative treatments a good tryout.



Antidepressants will still be available, if required, (unlikely) but it's best to avoid the risks, and side effects, if at all possible. I only recommend their use as a treatment of first choice in exceptional circumstances. Check out: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/08/robert-whitaker-interview.aspx and related articles and http://suiciderateup.wordpress.com See pages 3, and b, at 8m.com, for effective, non medication based depression treatments (self harm/cutting; see pages 1, & A). Try them for 3 - 6 months, to see if they are sufficient. If not (which is unlikely) the core treatments should still be maintained, as neither antidepressants, nor St. John's Wort, nor supplements should be relied on as the sole treatment for depression. Always check out medications first at www.drugs.com & www.rxlist.com & http://mediguard.org and read any inserts, or labels. Be on the alert for any of the abovementioned effects. I suggest that you use the many teen resources on page 2, at 8m.com. Most people these days are deficient in vitamins, minerals, and/or Omega 3 fatty acids, so a sensible approach is to test for, and address any which are found, because they may well be the cause, or exacerbating the depression. Note that St. John's Wort usually takes 2 - 6 weeks to start reaching maximum effectiveness, and there are things you need to know about it, so don't just pick up the first one you see in a supermarket and expect instant results. Check out the information provided, particularly the SJW & HYPERICUM websites, and choose an EFFECTIVE brand! Perika, Jarsin, or Kira are recommended. See http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_take_St_Johns_Wort_and_5-HTP_at_the_same_time Google: "St. John's Wort; 5-htp" Teens tend to want things: "right here; right now" and 5-htp acts quicker, but use a maximum daily dosage of 50 mg.

Answer 4

You need to go see a doctor. Chemical imbalances are seen more in the the form of mood swings, highs and lows. You seem to be in a low all the time. Medicine will not be the cure, but it will help. Only you can cure yourself. But in the mean time, you should see a doctor.

Answer 5

dont get upset first of all ... I had the same problem once... but now it is alright .... thnx God..

i was feeling the same and consult a psychatrist .... i had OCD and depression both... Ocd was due to chemical imbalance and depression was due to my own and self created tensions... it might be due to less amount of any neurotransmitters.... anyways... i think you should consult a very good psychatrist immediately and dont feel shy ..... gud luk :)

Answer 6

Depression is a chemical imbalance. Don't think you have depression.. maybe bipolar disorder? Regardless no one but a Dr can diagnose you.

Answer 7

You can make a huge dent in your depression by following simple lifestyle changes such as; exercising every day, avoiding the urge to isolate, challenging the negative thoughts in your head, eating healthy food instead of the junk ones, and carving out time for rest and relaxation. It takes time to feel better for yourself, but you can get there if you make positive choices each day and take the support of others.

Keep up with social activities: When you are depressed, you normally end up going into isolation. Being around with people would make you feel less depressed.

Practice relaxation techniques: Sleep well and more.