To all those dealing with depression/bipolar/or just feel alone

[Pigeons]

I used to be so angsty it wasn't even funny, but now I still get mood swings but I'm nowhere near as bad as I was. What KIND of depression do you have xM? Is it self diagnosis? Or have others agreed, who aren't in your immediate peer group?

[CherryCherryBoomBoom__]

my rents are pretty hard on me. im in ex cutter and my mum said that if i do it again im kicked out and i cant stay with my dad cuz hes the one making me do it.. i was diagnosed with psychotic depressed, iots really hard and i have to walk to all my classes alone cuz no one wants to put up with my shizz.....oh well its life..

[Silver_Wolf_Kitty]

xM, you can't quite say you have it unless you have been diagnosed. Mental problems are incrediblt hard to diagnose when you are younger and many symptoms overlap. What you think might be bipolar might actually be a different form of depression(yes, there are several) or something else entirely.

As for how my depression has been going, its been improving now that I have a supportive partner in my life. I don't think about hurting myself anymore and overall am much more cheerful. My mood swings are improving as well, with them happening much less often and being less severe. I'm very happy right now.

[xxMeggieMaggot]

My school actually monitered the things I'd do and write for an entire year (on the internet as well) and they sent me to a counsiller and told my parents that I have depression. I know I have depression. My parents and my family know I do. And I'm not here to convince you.

When i was first sent to therapy, I knew I got better. I was so happy that I started listening to Paramore (that is overlly happy for me.) But I eventually, slowy slipped back into my old ways.

And please don't think because I'm younger that I havent done my research.

And to Telephone: I hate my peer groups because they either tease me or think I'm showing off, and I hate that too. I dont get along with people my age. (That i am face to face with)

I feel strongly about this subject, thats why I support charities to help people like me. And Let me just say (once again), I'm not here to convince you. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Silver_Wolf_Kitty]

I'm not trying to argue with you xM, but as someone who is studying mental disease(in fact, psychology is my college major) and is a sufferer of depression, I feel that you need to listen to me before you jump to conclusions. Was the person who diagnosed you a medical professional, one who specializes in abnormal psychology? If not, you have NOT been diagnosed. If you were, then they would know what type of depression it is(and there are several, more than simply bipolar which is a commonly used term among teens who don't quite understand depression) and would be treating you for it.

I'm not trying to attack you, but I feel that this is a serious problem and self-diagnosis never works in the world of mental illness. I know, I lived with a woman for 12 years who was diagnosed incorrectly. Her symptoms for bipolar depression matched another mental illness and she was treated incorrectly for over a decade. It took her going to a new doctor to discover that. I also have associated with several people who suffer from depression and mental illness and know for a fact that it is difficult to treat at a young age because the symptoms can be taken to simply be exaggerated teenage angst. You need to understand that you need a professional to tell you this, not some school counselor who is not trained in the field.

[Miranda_]

Agreed. What you have, xM, sounds just like teenage angst. A million teenagers suffer from this, and believe me, it is NOT depression. You are able to function as a human being, get out of bed, go to school and socialise. You are not clinically depressed. Believe me when I say this; comparing teenage angst to depression is like comparing cutting your finger to having your arm severed. Please don't post in this thread any more if all you are going to do is delude yourself.

Tho why you'd want to wish such a debiliating illness on to yourself, I have no idea. I suffered for ages with depression, I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

[Silent_Wolf]

Also, if the school was monitoring you on the basis of a school counselor's belief, I do believe you need to report them as that is essentially monitoring without medical permission and is overstepping various boundaries, both professional and educational.

[Rocketship_]

I was depressed [not medically, but you know]. I still am sometimes. Self-harming, suicidal, you name it. It's shameful, in the end. I hardly talk about it.

[AaronShadows]

Yep, wolfie's right. If they're watching you out of the line of duty, then they're being seriously creepy. It's like they're saying 'Okay, you're going to our school, so now you're ours. That means no more privacy at all' I wouldn't stand for that for two seconds. I'd report them twice, set a virus on their computer system (If my useless AVG vault chose to behave and help me with such) and get some program to keep them the the eff out of my computer. -_-

[Miranda_]

If you're feeling sad, or stressed, that is not depression and never will be. There's more to clinical depression than just plain being sad, please do your research before you post in future as I am tired of teenagers abusing the term. Would you claim to have psychosis if you were angry, for example?