hi everyone,to cut a long story short, i have been feeling pretty lousy for around three months now, both physically and mentally, and put it down to just being 16 years old and having lots of pressure with school and all that...but i went to visit my doctor on tuesday, just to make sure it wasnt anything serious. i told him how i was feeling, and he examined me and i seem to be in perfect physical health, although i have had cold/flu type symptoms for a few weeks now, as well as random aches and pains which really wont quit.he asked me if school pressure or problems at home were getting me down, and i replied 'no', as i really didnt believe this could be the root of the problem.so my doctor told me to get some rest, take a few days off school and start eating properly, and then dropped the bombshell: after asking if i had any family history of depression, anxiety disorders or mental illness (which there is quite a strong history of in my immediate family), he told me i have stress-related depression.so i guess my 'problem' is that i really cannot believe i have depression, to my knowledge, 16 year olds don't get depression unless there are serious issues...or do they??although i am quite relieved that i am not infact going crazy, nor am i going to die from lack of sleep!so what do you lot think....do i have depression or is my doctor overreacting?the more i think about it...the more im starting to believe that there is a problem i have probably left some details out which may help...so if you need to ask then fire away.thanks in advance for your help, and ive just relaised this post is REALLY long...ooops!
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Disbelief and relief...
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It is very possible that you are suffering from depression, we may need to know a little more to help you out.
Many teens suffer from depression but it is nearly always just shrugged off as being just "teen moodiness". I believe that you have come to the right place to help if it is depression, you can release all of your stress or what ever and get good advice on almost anything that you want to ask but are too afraid to mention to any of your friends. Your anonimity is safe here and we want to help you :grin:
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you don't have to have serious problems to be suffering from depression, sometimes everything in your life can be going great, but you can still suffer from it
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Darn toot'n!!!
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okay, so say i do have depression....what can i do about it, cus i really want to avoid taking medication if i can.any help is appreciated!oh and another thing...how can i tell my mum, she also has depression and i think it might make her feel worse
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Same for me aswell. I've just recently realised that depression could be heredity in my family. Sucks.
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I could be wrong on this and someone please tell me if I am, but depression is not like a gene dysfunction or a disease per say, it is an infliction of the mind, an illness. It cannot be passed on, it can be influenced though. If your mother or another family member has it then their situation may effect yours. And not all forms of depression require medication, I have been suffering from cyclothymia for a little while, and all I'm getting through it with the help of my friends. It was hard to tell them, and I only told the ones that I new I could trust, but they are helping me.
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Mental disorders are indeed illnesses, and they are not contagious. They are not caused by bacteria or viruses. They do, however, have a genetic component. If you have a close relative with something, you are more likely to have it too. It seems that bad genes make you more likely, but not certain, to get it.