Dear Amanda
Dear Amanda,
Lately I have been feeling out-of-sorts. I have not been wanting to do the activities I used to enjoy. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning and cannot seem to be happy. I used to love biking and scrap booking but I haven't touched my bike or my scrapbooks for about a month now. Because I have not gone biking in a while I have began to gain a lot of weight and it makes me feel very ugly and worthless. I also have been feeling really down in the dumps this whole school year. I keep telling myself that its just a stage I'm going through and that it is because of my break-up with my long-term boyfriend. My mom and dad keep telling me to snap out of it and my grades are starting to slip. I have recently begun to become distracted by every little thing in the classroom and it irritates me. It is like I have no motivation to do anything anymore. Should I be worried about these feelings or is it really just a phase?
-Sad in Seattle
Sad in Seattle,
I would worried if I were you. You could be suffering from major depression. Major depression is defined as a constant sense of hopelessness and despair that lasts for more than two weeks. You have just listed many of the signs of this illness and should seek help. The symptoms of major depression are: feelings of sadness or unhappiness, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, insomnia or excessive sleeping, irritability over small matters, trouble thinking and concentrating, changes in appetite that can result in weight gain or loss, tiredness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Those symptoms I just listed are the ones you have just described to me. Your parents mean well by telling you to snap out of it, but they do not see the bigger issue at hand. The good news is that there are treatment options for you! I would recommend seeking out therapy and a psychiatrist. If the therapy and counseling does not work then you may be put on medication. Major depression usually occurs when there is a lack of certain chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This imbalance can be stabilized with the use of prescription medication. If you continue to exhibit these symptoms and have any feelings of suicidal behavior you should seek medical help immediately!
- Amanda
Lately I have been feeling out-of-sorts. I have not been wanting to do the activities I used to enjoy. I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning and cannot seem to be happy. I used to love biking and scrap booking but I haven't touched my bike or my scrapbooks for about a month now. Because I have not gone biking in a while I have began to gain a lot of weight and it makes me feel very ugly and worthless. I also have been feeling really down in the dumps this whole school year. I keep telling myself that its just a stage I'm going through and that it is because of my break-up with my long-term boyfriend. My mom and dad keep telling me to snap out of it and my grades are starting to slip. I have recently begun to become distracted by every little thing in the classroom and it irritates me. It is like I have no motivation to do anything anymore. Should I be worried about these feelings or is it really just a phase?
-Sad in Seattle
Sad in Seattle,
I would worried if I were you. You could be suffering from major depression. Major depression is defined as a constant sense of hopelessness and despair that lasts for more than two weeks. You have just listed many of the signs of this illness and should seek help. The symptoms of major depression are: feelings of sadness or unhappiness, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, insomnia or excessive sleeping, irritability over small matters, trouble thinking and concentrating, changes in appetite that can result in weight gain or loss, tiredness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Those symptoms I just listed are the ones you have just described to me. Your parents mean well by telling you to snap out of it, but they do not see the bigger issue at hand. The good news is that there are treatment options for you! I would recommend seeking out therapy and a psychiatrist. If the therapy and counseling does not work then you may be put on medication. Major depression usually occurs when there is a lack of certain chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. This imbalance can be stabilized with the use of prescription medication. If you continue to exhibit these symptoms and have any feelings of suicidal behavior you should seek medical help immediately!
- Amanda