Diganosed with Depression

[kissthestarsgoodnight]

After my counsellor at school booked an appointment for me to see my doctor last Friday, to discuss everything that has been going on and how I have been feeling, she diagnosed me with depression.

I knew that I had depression, I didn't want to go to the doctors, because then it would be official. I would officially have a label. I would officially be 'the depressed girl'

The doctor has also given me sleeping tablets for my insomnia, but they are not addictive and if you overdose on them, the results wouldn't be anything severe.

I suppose that know its been diagnosed, it just reminds me that I am messed up. I am in denial about the whole thing. I hate it. It makes me more depressed.

[Ghost On The Highway]

Hey Jade,

First of all, being diagnosed with depression does not necessarily mean you have clinical major depressive disorder. It's not diabetes or cancer, it's a subjective assessment by someone who doesn't really know what they're diagnosing in most cases (school counselor? general practitioner? please...) Don't feel like you have to "live the label" or that you're hiding anything by not telling others you "have depression." There's been a recent push to qualify MDD as a physical/neurological illness that is in many cases completely unfounded. Of course, if being diagnosed helps you receive treatment or care, go for it. What's important is that you are healthy and whole, not that you meet or don't meet criteria on a clinical inventory. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk.

-Ghoost

Hey, lovely!

You don't have to live by this. Being diagnosed will help you get treatment. You can tell who you wanna tell and you aren't hiding anything by not telling someone. Also, recovery in depression is possible so you aren't labeled and if you see it that way, you won't be labeled forever. You're beautiful You. So you can surely get through this, Jade. You've been through a lot.

[Mahray]

MDD != Depression

Depression is a set of symptoms, mental constructs and potentially brain chemistry being all buggered up.

Yes, some people see it as a label. Some people use it as a crutch.

Don't be some people. Be extraordinary.

Getting a diagnosis can help, because it means you can access some focussed treatment. I'm guessing you're not particularly old? If so, be cautious about someone offering you antidepressant medication as a panacea. Research suggests that in young people, this sort of drug can have side effects including suicidal thoughts/behaviour. Sucks, eh?

The good news? There is also strong evidence for certain forms of therapy (primarily CBT) working wonders helping with depression. So if you get someone who knows what they're doing, and there are a lot of them out there, then you will be able to get plenty of useful help.

[Ghost On The Highway]

^ Generally good points. To clarify, my point was not that medically-diagnosed depression isn't MDD, but that therapists and physicians often jump to conclusions when making that diagnosis. When I was diagnosed with MDD, it took a nurse practitioner 15 minutes -- hardly long enough to understand a person.

I agree that antidepressants often do more harm than good, especially for young people. CBT can be useful, especially when depression has a definite antecedent or "cause." In my case, it didn't help. Mindfullness and meditation did, however. All depends on the individual.

[Kate*]

I have to agree that a mental health diagnosis from a GP is not the best idea. When I told my doctor I had been feeling depressed (and I DO know what depression is), she basically agreed with everything I said I felt and tried to throw pills at me which I refused. I would suggest getting a full assessment from a mental health professional, but whether the diagnosis is accurate or not, a diagnosis labels your symptoms, it doesn't label a person. It tells us how you feel, not who you are. There are whole counseling theories who reject diagnosis completely. If you don't like the label, then don't label yourself. Good clinicians won't see you that way (or at least they aren't supposed to). The symptom label only becomes your identity if you let it.