do you have depression?

[visibleghost]

These statistics are positively staggering to see, but I'm actually not surprised.
I've just watched a podcast recently on this topic, and it can actually shed some light on it.
You see, there have already been polls conducted on this sight that conclude that around eighty percent of the population on these forums are female, and if you've taken a look at the recent depression rates among young females, you'd be pretty bummed to see that it's massively on the rise. Nothing has been stated conclusively as to why, but it seems to coincide perfectly with the rise of social media. As soon as children had access to it, it was a detriment on their lives, but you can hear more about it at this link:

I have never liked the narrative "social media/the internet is the cause of depression" but maybe that's just me. I think it is an oversimplification of a huge issue that has loads of different causes, and for some is purely brain chemistry or past trauma. Don't get me wrong, I am sure social media has an impact on a lot of people with varying severity of depression, but calling it a main cause just doesn't sit right with me and it feels like a "just get off Instagram and you will be fine" sort of thing.

I know social media has never contributed to my own depression in any significant way and I feel extremely offended when someone basically tells me my disorders are Society's Fault or social media or whatever thing that is trendy to blame mental illness in youth on at the given moment.

In some ways, it is a little bit like saying "people with EDs want to be thin because they want to be pretty", it is a gross oversimplification of an issue that is so much more complex than that and if it was "that easy" it wouldn't be such a large issue as it is.

I'm not saying social media isn't problematic, I just don't think it should be seen as the big cause of mental illness.

 

[jiny]

i replied to this thread last year and i don’t really think my answer has changed all that much. but i have found myself a lot sadder than normal these past few months. it might be because of the whole covid thing because it has had such a big impact on my mental health. i don’t want to self diagnose and say i have depression but i sometimes feel maybe i do. i kinda want to get checked out by a professional to see if maybe i do have it, but it would probably be a mild case of it tbh. but hopefully when covid finally ends my mental health will get better. online school and the stress it gives me makes me so unmotivated to do my work and sometimes it is hard to get out of bed and go to my classes. i do feel sometimes harmful thoughts but it’s usually in the moment when i’m sad then i look back on it and it’s just like, i’m really glad i didn’t do anything harmful to myself

 

[avieators]

i was diagnosed w a general anxiety disorder last year and had been feeling the effects of both that and depression for far longer! my anxiety manifests in the form of bursts of anger, which then taper off into a empty feeling, which then leads to the depression...i have to rest a lot throughout the day just bc i feel so tired all the time. anxiety keeps me awake most of the night, it's completely ruined a healthy sleep schedule (i go to bed at like,,,7-8ish in the morning ) i am seeing a doctor but a lot of my issues now are behavioral which requires therapy and thats not possible for me right now edit: this year in particular has been a plague on my mental health bc i hate to see ppl suffering and be unable to do anything,,,between the pandemic and the protests its just been a constant drain on my energy, not to mention a lot of stuff happening in my social lives, both online and offline

 

[neoqueenserenity]

sorry to hear that you've suffered a lot, that sucks.
i have a question, how do you feel about the diagnosis dysthymia? a psychologist diagnosed me with it when i was 18 and i felt really offended (.... don't laugh but i read on swedish wikipedia (specified because english wikipedia seems to have a different definition..? and no i don't read the dsm) that it's less severe than mdd and i was like Excuse Me don't come into my brain and disrespect my depression) but it might be something that actually isn't an "offensive" diagnosis when i look back at it. i always considered myself chronically depressed rather than dysthymic or something else, but like, how do you feel about the different labels? idk if this made sense but yyhhjrfd

Thank you for that. It sucked going through it, but definitely shaped me to be the person I am today. I never thought I'd say it, but I wouldn't change it. Days of my chest physically aching because of this nagging sadness, sometimes even for no reason it seemed like, feeling like I could cry or breakdown at the drop of a hat, harboring all those feelings.. it really made me appreciate what I have today. Its wishful thinking, but I hope everyone can take the bad and make it into something good some day.

I never really felt like the label wasn't accurate. I think I'm understanding what you're explaining though, because it can be hard to put a label on mental illness. It has so many different views and ways to diagnose/treat in other countries, it's definitely not a black and white thing but has many grey areas in between. I do slightly feel it can be a temporary diagnoses depending on the situation, like a gateway diagnoses that can be managed with medication/counseling, or escalate into more severe depression which you may have experienced. I'm no psychiatrist though, I'll always advocate for getting second opinions

 

[Galaxite]

I have major depression, major anxiety, and ADHD. What a wonderful combo (not ;- I've had ADHD since I was born, depression since puberty, and anxiety since I graduated high school.

 

[Croconaw]

Years ago, I used to think so. However, I’ve gotten much better recently. A lot of stuff in general went down in 2020 but it has helped me.

 

[Jam86]

i don't think i am, my mum does though

idk why, apparently i seem depressed but tbh, i'm not fully sure what it means to be depressed so i'm always thinking "how could i be depressed if i'm always happy?"
but yeah, idk what it actually means but my mum thinks i have depression

she also thinks i have serious anxiety but i'm not sure about that either
like i'm shy if that's what she means but i'm pretty stupid so i'm not sure

 

[BluebearL]

To be honest I am not entirely sure. I have very high anxiety which causes me to go into shorter periods of depression. I have certainly been depressed in an unhealthy way before, to the point where my Mum asked me if I needed to go on anti-depressants. That was during the teenage years a while ago so idk. Unfortunately, anxiety has many of the same symptoms/outward impacts as depression so taking tests to find out doesn't really tell me anything. Regardless of whether or not I do have depression, my main issue is 100% my anxiety. It is pretty high and has been debilitating throughout my life. I think that this is what causes me to then go into depression when I have been going through so much anxiety. Thankfully I do have very supportive friends and family and have been getting help for a while now. Wouldn't wish it on anyone though, there truly needs to be more awareness given how common mental health is. The impacts need to be recognized in everyday life.

 

[JemAC]

I picked no as its my response whenever I'm asked this question and because most of the time I don't believe I am but I suppose its pretty subjective seen as I am actually prescribed anti-depressants (which I don't take). In general I'm mostly happy but not very open about my feelings, my response is to always tell people I'm okay even if I'm not as I never like to burden anyone else. I got prescribed the meds due to having a long term health condition and because I'm pretty pessimistic I think my doctors thought I was suffering emotionally from my health problems but really I only feel low when it gets in the way of life, other then that I try to look on the bright side.

 

[nightglow]

Since december of 2020 i think i can confidently say im depressed. Not pandemic related. Not surprising to me considering my history of anxiety and chronic pain. Its just been more noticeable to me personally. If i was to see a professional im sure they would quickly agree.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

wish I could change my vote. used to be moderate/mild but it's been severe for almost a year now lol


(dw about me tho my arctic fox plush and little waluigi have healing powers so I'm good)


edit: I saw someone mention dysthymia so I looked it up and? im like 179% that's what I have?? at least that gives me a little hope of having it treated ;~;

 

[Shawna]

No, but sometimes I think I have an anxiety disorder and/or I am sensitive and get upset easily. I am on the spectrum, and it can go hand-in-hand with mood and whatnot. :/

 

[Dinosaurz]

Best thing about people bringing these types of posts back is I can see how depressed I was 2 years ago lol

 

[kusariyaro]

more and more people are depressed and it seems that depression is here 2 stayyyy and will keep affecting more and more people!! so i was how many of you all would consider urselves depressed bc thats fun to talk about idk.
just vote what you think, i dont care if youre 12 and sad often or if u have 30 therapists who all agree that youre the most depressed person theyve ever met, depression is depression so just vote whatever u feel like.

also feel free to share some sad stories from ur life or something if you want to. it's not like a disorder can describe everything thats wrong w someone so if you wanna share go aheaddddddd

yup i have depression but im medicated and i also go to therapy. i feel better and i thinl im getting better, people around me tell me so too! my tips:
-dont make self deprecating jokes! instead start msking jokes abt how cool u are, everyone will laugh, the others make people uncomfy. and the most important thing: it actually helps u! fake it til u make it lol i believe that self deprecating jokes affect negatively our perception of ourselves
-workout! believe it or not... it actually works! it make u feel better
-try to go out with friends etc
-having a job/school/collegw gives u a responsibility and some kind of routine. this is very important!

 

[.: Meri :.]

Yep, and I'm fairly certain I've been this way since before I was even a teenager, but I think I'm managing it okay and it's definitely more in the mild/moderate range, at least now. I've tried a lot of things with little luck; I've been hoping to finally start therapy and probably get on some medication (which I was putting off doing for way, way too long), but the pandemic situation has unfortunately not made that easy. Hopefully I'll be able to soon though!

 

[piichinu]

i have severe depression but its completely chemical and genetic and it cant be improved by making changes in my life because there is no reason for it (i am genuinely doing everything right and i have no troubles LOL). that's why we r putting me on medications and other treatments rip

pretty much the main problems it causes for me is looking at any object and thinking "i can kill myself with that," as well as the dysfunctionality like neglecting eating or not hanging up my clothes. ive been able to use brute force to make myself maintain a clean environment (ex. i will NOT have dust or trash in my apartment. BUT i have no problem throwing clothes into my room, closing the door, and sleeping in my living room!!!!) and use the power of vanity for cleanliness and hygiene but things like getting myself to study (luckily i have/had a powerful memory so that has been carrying me, but it is getting worse and i have to hurry and take care of it), eating, or having suicidal ideation all the time i haven't figured out how to fix myself yet

 

[EmmaFrost]

Yes and it's severe. I have tried so many meds and therapists. They can't fix things or build me a support system out of thin air. Those tools can only do so much.

 

[idiotdoomspiral]

I commented somewhere in this thread be4 somewhere but its basically the same as it was a few years ago. My psychiatrist told me my brain kinda mushy and that at this stage i will always be unwell (without antidepressants i guess). I have severe episodes and relapses but overall im doing ok i love myself and im motivated to get better etc. Still a hard pill to swallow (Lol) cuz i wanna function without meds but ive proven to myself time and time again that i cant go with this option. Noo i dont wanna develop tardive dyskinesia im too sexy aha

 

[Croconaw]

I already commented on this thread, but I don’t think so. I think it was a mix of bullying and being self conscious of my appearance causing me to be upset. After fixing things about myself to be more confident in myself, I haven’t been depressed. Yes, I’ve had bad days, but I just learn to cope and I’m generally a happy person nowadays.

 

[VanitasFan26]

(sigh) yes I do. Its very personal.