-- Posted by Shawn517 at 10:52 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Can you tell you have depression without diagnosis? I can't even begin to explain things in my life. I'm so stessed, from everything. In the back of my mind, even though I'm not actually thinking of killing myself or anything, I really honestly always, even when I'm happy, believe that I would be better off dead. It's not unhappiness as much as it's a wish to rather not be living. I mean, idk. I can be having the best time of my life, and I still wish I wasn't alive, and I'd wish I didn't have to go through it, because I have it in my head that it'll eventually get worse, because it ALWAYS does. It's where you come to this realization that you've worked so hard to get through so many bad things that have already happened in your life, and you just want it to be over and you want there to be happiness and you don't want to have to worry for the rest of your life, but I know this is only the beginning, because I'm a teenager. I don't want to go on. I really just wanna die and get it over with and idk how to deal with it. What do I do?   -- Posted by Anonymous at 10:54 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 5 of 9 of the following symptoms must be present for a diagnosis according to the DSMIV, with at least one of those being either a depressed mood or anhedonia..          Depressed mood      Loss of pleasure in usual activities (anhedonia)      Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt      Inability to concentrate      Fatigue or loss of energy      Insomnia or hypersomnia      Psychomotor agitation or retardation      Significant weight loss or gain      Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide sticking to the technical part of your question just because. -- Posted by AROONA1 at 10:56 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Hi Shawn. I think that u should look at the positive things in life... Think about the goals u can work towards. You are much stronger than u think u are. Do not isolate yourself. Interact with people that are of a good influence. There are times when situations get real sticky , but u have to beat it. U got what it takes. -- Posted by Indecisive at 10:57 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 oh my gosh I must be depressed... So is manic depression all all nine symptoms -- Posted by Poker Shark at 10:57 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 try this depression screening quiz: http://psychcentral.com/depquiz.htm it can't diagnose u but i think it's helpful to take it and see how u go.. -- Posted by rawrr at 10:58 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 hmmm 8/9 but i dont think im depressed? -- Posted by Shawn517 at 11:03 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Wow guys thanks, especially for that quiz.... -- Posted by Poker Shark at 11:07 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Quote: from Shawn517 at 5:33 pm on Feb. 21, 2007 Wow guys thanks, especially for that quiz.... your welcome. i hope u manage to work out ur problems somehow :) -- Posted by Indecisive at 11:08 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Anyone notice how his title rhymed HEE HEE... -- Posted by Poker Shark at 11:10 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Quote: from Indecisive at 5:27 pm on Feb. 21, 2007 oh my gosh I must be depressed... So is manic depression all all nine symptoms manic depression=bipolar disorder which is a completely different (and more serious) mental illness from regular depression (aka unipolar or major depression). i have had all those 9 symptoms and have been diagnosed and treated for severe depression. -- Posted by Indecisive at 11:11 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Quote: from Poker Shark at 11:10 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Quote: from Indecisive at 5:27 pm on Feb. 21, 2007 oh my gosh I must be depressed... So is manic depression all all nine symptoms manic depression=bipolar disorder which is a completely different (and more serious) mental illness from regular depression (aka unipolar or major depression).   i have had all those 9 symptoms and have been diagnosed and treated for severe depression. I think bipolar is a disease that ppl tell you that you have just to put you on psychiatric medication everyone I know is bipolar... Supposably me.. I say BUSHIT to that -- Posted by Poker Shark at 11:53 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Quote: from Indecisive at 5:41 pm on Feb. 21, 2007 Quote: from Poker Shark at 11:10 pm on Feb. 20, 2007 Quote: from Indecisive at 5:27 pm on Feb. 21, 2007 oh my gosh I must be depressed... So is manic depression all all nine symptoms    manic depression=bipolar disorder which is a completely different (and more serious) mental illness from regular depression (aka unipolar or major depression).    i have had all those 9 symptoms and have been diagnosed and treated for severe depression.   I think bipolar is a disease that ppl tell you that you have just to put you on psychiatric medication everyone I know is bipolar... Supposably me.. I say BUSHIT to that bipolar disorder affects about 2% of the population so i doubt "everyone" you know is bipolar. so a psychiatrist has diagnosed u with it? yeah the best way of managing bipolar is with psychiatric meds (antidepressants (prozac, zoloft, lexapro etc.), mood stabilizers (lithium, lamictal, topamax etc.) and antipsychotics (zyprexa, abilify, geodon etc.). if ur symptoms dont negatively affect ur life then there is no need for treatment. it's up to u really but if u go really manic and crazy or depressed and suicidal u will get locked up and force medicated.