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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Am I in a depression?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.

Am I in a depression?

by Children of the Night, Apr 01, 2002 12:00AM
Hi this is my first post here even though I have been here before and have found this site to be very helpful.

I guess my question is "Am I depressed or am I insane?"

For you to answer this question I will start by giving you my history of problems in point form.



*I am 24yrs old.

*I come from a very strict family.

*At home I was beaten and always told how stupid I am.

*I was teased at school everyday and always had bully's      beating me up.

*my mother has a history of being depressed and is very paronoid.

*I am also very paroniod I always think people are talking about me and trying attack me in some way.

*I wake up every night screaming I sleep walk and talk in my sleep.

*I never go out I dont want to see anyone, if someone knock on

our door I run to my room.

*I have in the last year or so been losing my short term memory.

*I have started smocking marajuana but only once a week.

*I have put on weight and sleep alot, I always feel tired.

*by far the most interesting thing for me is for some reason,

all my life this has been happening. Time speeds up and by that I mean people are talking faster as I am and moving faster its like the world has gone fast forward but only for me. What is that?



I am so sorry about my English.

Thank You







by Roger Gould, M.D., Apr 01, 2002 12:00AM
You are in serious rut and you should thinkg about getting professional help.  Its not a matter of being insane. Its a matter of all of your past memories of being treated badly have occupied so much space in your mind that you are responding to current reality (someone at the door) as if your past is destined to repeat itself that moment( bully etc).



Because of that, your life is not moving along, you are stuck, and you are depressed (tired, weight gain,sleep).  Some medications and psychotherapy will be of great help to you..you should seek that as soon as possible so you don't waste any of your young life.



Regarding the fast forward part, I don't have enough information to be sure, but its possible that that phenomenon represents your great desire to get moving and make up for wasted time.



If you want you can start immediately at the mastering stress program( link above).
Member Comments (1)

by TAWNY54, Apr 02, 2002 12:00AM
To: Children of the Night
DO YOU HAVE ANYONE TO HELP YOU ?TO GO TO THE DOCTOR WITH YOU ITS EASIER TO HAVE SOME ONE WITH YOU YOUR FIRST TIME EXPLAINING YOUR PROBLEMS CHEMICAL IMBALANCES CAN BE INHIERITED ON TOP OF THE WAY PEOPLE HAVE TREATED YOU IN THE PAST YOU NEED SOME MEDS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FULLY DONT BE EMBARESSED YOU WOULD BE AMAZED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED MEDICATION LIKE MYSELF IF YOU NEED TO TALK EMAIL ME ***@****  GOOD LUCK

by Children of the Night, Apr 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: Tawny54
Thank you for your reply and kind words In answering your question, no I do not have anyone to help me. My family will never help as they will see it as a sign of weekness, I dont have many firends. I think I will go see the doctor by my self.

by Ritty, Apr 05, 2002 12:00AM
I so hope you do go to the doctor; they are only there to help.  I used to have terrible nightmares, the screaming, having to run to get to the bathroom (fear of something after me)and the paranoia of others, what they were thinking of me, etc.  I do not want to guess what might be at the hidden level of your psyche; I have no idea what is or isn't at my own.  But, I have not had as difficult a time since I began Zoloft, and now Celexa.  I have a limited amount of friends; it is hard for me to trust people.  I really am sorry your family is not supportive and has been a cause of grief for you.  You are reaching out, and I applaud you for that!!!!  I wish you well, and hope to hear how things go for you.  I think all of us with difficulties in life have the desire to be supportive of others.

by Children of the Night, Apr 08, 2002 12:00AM
Thank You :)

by shorty butt, May 27, 2002 12:00AM
i am 18 yrs old i have been through alot im the kind of person with my heart on my sleeve but lately ive been feeling very sad and confused i sleep all the time and i have lost a lot of intrest in all i use to like.

i dont know what it is but if some one could tell me i might be able to get better.

by Skeeter D, Jun 24, 2002 12:00AM
dear children

just remember it takes more strength to seek help than to suffer. Don't let anyone tell you different.

just a few comments about your history.

1.talk therapy can be very useful in helping us overcome our fears and understand what is going on. It also gives those of us who do not have supportive family the support we need.

2. the part about the nightmares, sleepwalking and talking in your sleep is more than likely caused by a sleep disorder and will cause you to feel tired all the time. you should ask for a sleepstudy. if it is a sleep disorder there is meds that will help that part and then you can work on the rest.



good luck
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