i'm seriously depressed

[AcidLake]

hey guys i'm... well, a teeneager and i am seriously depressed about an issue that i'm suffering with right now. i won't realy explain it right now (maybe i'll write abou tit later when i feel like as if it's a time to tell it) but what do you recommend to do whne you are depressed? and please help me

[jeterdaman]

Go get laid

[KLJ]

drink heavily

[Trish]

Talk to your parents? An older sibling? Aunt or uncle?

[NYYDragoon]

Talk to your parents? An older sibling? Aunt or uncle?

Or friends.

Also, go do something you have fun with.

[JL25and3]

If you're really, really, really seriously depressed, go see a shrink.

Short of that, listen to sides 1 and 3 of Layla nice and loud. (I know, that's an obsolete concept.)

[4bronxbombers]

If you're seriously depressed, you really should talk to someone professionally. Good luck - you really don't want to carry whatever it is on your shoulders so please seek help.

[bobbymagee]

Pray to God.
Find comfort with you closest, best friend.
Don't drink or get laid it's just a temporary fix. (might get an STD)
Find a mentor for getting good advice.
Treat yourself good & to some enjoyment.
Watch a Yankee game

* change your avatar, you look mad not depressed :

[Mantle'sMutt]

This is really not a joking matter, provided you are being sincere. Go online. Search, find, and honestly answer a depression survey. If your score indicates, seek competent counsel from someone you can talk to freely FIRST (even if it is your dog, intially, before working up to someone who can answer). Make pharmaceuticals the last option.

[montrealer]

^ along with Minister,school teacher, etc.....there is always someone..........even Telephone help lines....

[CanoForPresident]

hey guys i'm... well, a teeneager and i am seriously depressed about an issue that i'm suffering with right now. i won't realy explain it right now (maybe i'll write abou tit later when i feel like as if it's a time to tell it) but what do you recommend to do whne you are depressed? and please help me

Nothing ground breaking here but go seek professional help - it works.

Hope things get better for you bro.

[Bozidar]

try to remember that the likelyhood of your problem being earth-shattering is very very low.

you're a teenager, your life isn't ending, it's just getting started.

[Trish]

Or friends.

Also, go do something you have fun with.

I think friends are the worst people to talk to when you're seriously depressed...especially teenaged friends.

Ask your parents for help in finding a professional to talk to.

[Mantle'sMutt]

try to remember that the likelyhood of your problem being earth-shattering is very very low.

you're a teenager, your life isn't ending, it's just getting started.

Boz, makes a good point. For every trouble you've had, there are literally millions who've shared the exact same thoughts. Promise. This is not to make light of your issues, but sometimes they don't seem quite as debilitating if you're not alone in them.

[Mantle'sMutt]

I think friends are the worst people to talk to when you're seriously depressed...especially teenaged friends.

Ask your parents for help in finding a professional to talk to.

I agree in most all cases, family, too, since they are often the source of any issues and they can be dealt with later. And if you can't ask your parents, still take the advice and call an anonymous line for a referral, instead.

[NYYDragoon]

I think friends are the worst people to talk to when you're seriously depressed...especially teenaged friends.

Not if they're like your brothers/sisters.

[NyQuil]

Talk to your parents and if you are seriously depressed you need help from a professional.

I never dealt with clinical depression but I used to have moderate OCD. After a few months with weekly visits to a professional I was able to overcome it and my life has improved exponentially.

[Trish]

Not if they're like your brothers/sisters.

A teenager is not equipped to help with real depression. Very often teenage depression is caused by your so-called great friends.

[Barb51850]

You are off to a good start by posting here. Sharing with other people, even if it is us from the NYYFans forum, helps a great deal. It has been many many years since I was a teenager, however, there is something I vividly remember - feeling depressed over things that now seem so trivial looking back on them. Talk to someone you trust, whether it is a friend, a family member or clergy.

[NyQuil]

A teenager is not equipped to help with real depression.

This. Hell, I did my undergraduate coursework in Psychology and I wouldn't say I am qualified to deal with it.

[walesave]

Think about what you can do to help someone else.

[Bozidar]

Not if they're like your brothers/sisters.

imo, if they're like your teenage brothers/sisters, then yes.. even them. Trish is right.. talk to an adult, parent preferred, but any responsible adult who cares about you will do.

[Mantle'sMutt]

Think about what you can do to help someone else.

Actually, a very helpful idea.

[NYYDragoon]

A teenager is not equipped to help with real depression. Very often teenage depression is caused by your so-called great friends.

First of all, stop making assumptions about the situation. Secondly, how do you know what will help a person get over his specific instance? If a good friend is someone you can trust and who can provide an adequate shoulder to lean on, why not?

[fredgmuggs]

If you're truly depressed than seek professional help... but if you're just dealing with periodic blues like most of get every now and then, try to do something different in your life. Everybody gets stuck in ruts with their life.

Go to a concert.... or better yet, try doing something for somebody else, volunteer for a charitable organization. Good luck, I hope you start feeling better very soon.

[Trish]

First of all, stop making assumptions about the situation. Secondly, how do you know what will help a person get over his specific instance? If a good friend is someone you can trust and who can provide an adequate shoulder to lean on, why not?

He/she asked us here on the forum what we recommend. I think if he/she had good friends to talk to, he/she has already done so. It seems more help is required. If it's real depression, talking to his/her friends is not what is needed. Therefore, a professional needs to evaluate the situation.

I'm a parent, I've been dealing with this situation, and I have a little bit of insight here.

[jeterdaman]

This isn't about our Bullpen woes is it?

[Bozidar]

First of all, stop making assumptions about the situation. Secondly, how do you know what will help a person get over his specific instance? If a good friend is someone you can trust and who can provide an adequate shoulder to lean on, why not?

what does it mean to you when someone says they're seriously depressed?

[NYYDragoon]

He/she asked us here on the forum what we recommend. I think if he/she had good friends to talk to, he/she has already done so. It seems more help is required. If it's real depression, talking to his/her friends is not what is needed. Therefore, a professional needs to evaluate the situation.

I'm a parent, I've been dealing with this situation, and I have a little bit of insight here.

Just because something is shared here doesn't mean this is the only place it's being discussed. If it's real depression professional help would certainly be advised, but in the meantime...

I've also dealt with this a few times. I have insight too.

[Mantle'sMutt]

It's time we heard from AcidLake. What's up with the screen name?

[Trish]

Just because something is shared here doesn't mean this is the only place it's being discussed. If it's real depression professional help would certainly be advised, but in the meantime...

I've also dealt with this a few times. I have insight too.

Edit...it's not even worth it.

[b-ball-lunachick]

hey guys i'm... well, a teeneager and i am seriously depressed about an issue that i'm suffering with right now. i won't realy explain it right now (maybe i'll write abou tit later when i feel like as if it's a time to tell it) but what do you recommend to do whne you are depressed? and please help me

Sorry to hear that AcidLake. There's already been a lot of good suggestions here...reaching out here is a good start -- sometimes it's easier to tell "strangers" things than the people in your "real" life. I hope you have some other friends or family or someone you feel comfortable confiding in-- if you don't want to tell your parents that you want to get professional help and you would have to for insurance, maybe there's a trusted minister, teacher or guidance counselor you can speak to?

Hope you're feeling better soon..if you feel comfortable posting what issue(s) you're suffering with, we may be able to give you some better guidance.

[Soriambi]

If you have serious depression you should talk to your doctor and see what he or she says. Also, you'll probably want to discuss it with your parents if that's a possibility. Chances are they'll recommend that you see a psychologist or psychiatrist, which is a very good idea if you're very depressed. They really can help, either through traditional therapy or medication, which isn't anything to be ashamed of, as depression is an illness like any other and medication is sometimes necessary.

(And if you do go to see a psychologist and your personalities clash or you've been going for quite a while and you're not feeling any improvement at all, don't be afraid to switch, because just because one isn't helping doesn't mean that none will.) Hope you feel happier soon.

[BonusCantos]

I've been where you've been; more recently than you think.

Talk to someone you trust.

[Mantle'sMutt]

If you have serious depression you should talk to your doctor and see what he or she says. Also, you'll probably want to discuss it with your parents. Chances are they'll recommend that you see a psychologist or psychiatrist, which is a very good idea if you're very depressed. They really can help (and if you do go to see one and your personalities clash or you've been going for quite a while and you're not feeling any improvement at all, don't be afraid to switch, because just because one isn't helping doesn't mean that none will.) Hope you feel happier soon.

Insist to see a psychologist FIRST. They might be able to help so much that a psychiatrist will be unecessary. A psychologist may or may not refer you to a pyschiartrist but, if they do, it usually only becasue the psychiatrist can dispense meds (whose effects in some cases can be worse than the depression).

[WashingtonYankee]

Hey,

I'll be completely honest, I've had a really hard time through college. I talked to a counselor throughout my college career that really helped me get through the issues that I was going through along with my parents and close friends. I'm actually able to talk about the things that happened to me during college and I've been known to help friends and family members because of the things that I went through.

Other things that I recommend doing are: writing, talking to a teacher/coach, listening to soft music, watching a Yankees game and surrounding yourself with friends who are a positive influence.

Please stay away from drugs, alcohol and sex like some of the people mentioned.

[JL25and3]

Insist to see a psychologist FIRST. They might be able to help so much that a psychiatrist will be unecessary. A psychologist may or may not refer you to a pyschiartrist but, if they do, it usually only becasue the psychiatrist can dispense meds (whose effects in some cases can be worse than the depression).

If it's a serious depression, a responsible psychologist should recommend a psychiatric consult. I disagree that medication should necessarily be a last resort - again, it depends on the seriousness.

[Soriambi]

If it's a serious depression, a responsible psychologist should recommend a psychiatric consult. I disagree that medication should necessarily be a last resort - again, it depends on the seriousness.

Agreed. But we probably shouldn't even be covering all this. The bottom line is that he should talk to his parents or doctor and go from there. I don't feel qualified to say anything other than that. That's for the professionals to figure out based on the specifics of the situation.

[JL25and3]

Agreed. But we probably shouldn't even be covering all this. The bottom line is that he should talk to his parents or doctor and go from there. I don't feel qualified to say anything other than that. That's for the professionals to figure out based on the specifics of the situation.

^ This. Our advice is meaningless.

[Mantle'sMutt]

^ This. Our advice is meaningless.

I think we'd all basically agree. It's up to AL now.

[WashingtonYankee]

If it's a serious depression, a responsible psychologist should recommend a psychiatric consult. I disagree that medication should necessarily be a last resort - again, it depends on the seriousness.

I agree with this response. As someone who was went through depression and almost took her own life, medication actually probably saved me along with talking to a shrink.

[WashingtonYankee]

Agreed. But we probably shouldn't even be covering all this. The bottom line is that he should talk to his parents or doctor and go from there. I don't feel qualified to say anything other than that. That's for the professionals to figure out based on the specifics of the situation.

What I'm worried about is this teen's relationship with their parents. What if they're not close to their parents? What if it's the problem? I just hope that this person is able to have someone close to them in their life who can help them get the help they need.

[Mantle'sMutt]

If it's a serious depression, a responsible psychologist should recommend a psychiatric consult. I disagree that medication should necessarily be a last resort - again, it depends on the seriousness.

A consult (to assess real NEED) and a quick referal to prescribe meds out of hand (which often happens in place of in-depth analysis) are two different things. I believe that taking meds is ALWAYS a last resort, but clearly a neccessity IF it is warranted in the first place. Trouble is, after doing substantial research myself, the chemical approach is often ineffective, at best. I do not rule it out in all cases, because there are some with chemical imbalances for which these drugs work wonders. For many others, though, the can meds make them duller and less quick witted for no real benefit.

I have to give my SECOND psychiatrist a nod, though, after the first one (in concert with the psychologist) prescribed me Prozac and then Zoloft for my "depression". After turing into a numb skull, I asked to see another psychiatrist. After ONE visit, and describing my symptoms in the exact same way, he sent me to the sleep lab where they diagnosed sleep apnea. I have not had the need for meds, or the psychologist in two years.

[Sam18]

He said tit.

[Casey at the Bat]

If you are in school, share you concerns with a counselor or psychologist in school. Or talk to your parents, whichever may be easier for you.

The important part is that when you feel like this, you often feel like you are alone, and maybe the only one who feels the way you do. You don't have to go through this alone, though. Get some help from somewhere. Often the hardest thing to do is take that first step, and things seem to get easier after that.

Good luck.

[allybear]

A lot of great advice in this thread - not much I can add, but find someone to talk to, or even more than one someone - professionals, family and friends all have their place and you should talk to as many of them as you feel comfortable with, but find a professional first. If you have a pet at home, spend some time with it - studies have shown that petting a dog or cat reduces anxiety and depression - I wouldn't pet the dog instead of seeing a shrink if I was seriously depressed, but I'd certainly supplement the shrink with a dog or cat.

[bobbymagee]

If it's a serious depression, a responsible psychologist should recommend a psychiatric consult. I disagree that medication should necessarily be a last resort - again, it depends on the seriousness.

I am not a mental health specialist, obvious to all on this fine site, but believe friends, faith and a positive role model and/or mentor are salient to living with moderate to severe depressoin. Psychologists are over rated...):

[mjdlight]

Best of luck to you AcidLake, the advice on seeking help from a professional is good...I have many friends who have benefited so much from therapy.

Beyond that, the only thing I can add, is that if there is one thing I wish I understood better when I was a teenager as compared to now is that the only constant is change. Whatever has got you down will get better in time. You might not believe it, but trust me, it will, whatever it is.

I went through a dark period at 19 when my father suddenly died...and I never thought it would get better. But it did...

[Yankee Tripper]

no matter how depressed you might be don't do this http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?t=119299

[BxBomber44]

Don't think you can beat it alone, get some help my man. Talk to people.