I think I might be depressed

[Mel112193]

I am currently 15 years old. I have been feeling depressed ever since I started seventh grade and I am now a sophmore in highschool. I looked at the symptoms for major depression and I had five of the symptoms. Today was a pretty bad day for me. It was my last day of my freshman year. I got home and took a nap since I was feeling overly tired. My father got home early and started yelling at me for not having the dishes done. I then started yelling back at him because I didnt know he was gonna be home early, and he always says that I never do anything around the house, but he proceedes to sit on his butt all night long. I was fed up with him. I do almost all the chores around the house and he still says I do nothing and that I am a worthless piece of trailor trash. Today I felt the most lonely I have ever felt in my entire life. I just want someone to talk to, I feel so alone.

[mammo]

Have you tried talking with your mom or other relative regarding this?  Your father should not talk this way to you, keeping in mind that he has a real problem himself!  It obviously makes him feel like a big man to belittle you, seek comfort in knowing this and do not take anything he says personally.  It's tough to only be 15 and having to deal with this.  I'm sure you are depressed but your home situation needs to be addressed.  A school counselor would be a good place to start, as this will get one of your parents or relative's attention to the fact that there is a problem, and then you can go from there.  In a few years you will be an adult and can live your own life, until then talk to your counselor at school and see what can be done now to make your life easier.

[Hensley258]

Given you young age, starting with good regular therapy by a Psychologist would be a good start.

As for school counsolors....Eh, they really don't have the training to effectivly treat depression in teens.

I realize getting this kind of care is not going to be easy for you, simply because you are a minor and to see a good Psycologist for therapy is probably going to be governed by your parents approval.

I don't recomend that you start with a Psychiatrist right off the bat. These are doctors that specialize in treating depression with Psychotropic medications.

The problem with giving teens antidepressants is that in many cases people under 19 can have a bad reaction to antidepressants. (this fact is still not fully understood)

See if you can talk your parents into letting you go for regular therapy. Studies indicate that if therapy is given to young teens that they have a better chance of keeping this depression from manifesting into a full blown Major depression in adulthood.

I'm just saying that if you catch it while your young and act on it that you can minimize the effect it may have on you in the future.