Am I mildly depressed?

[Hugbert]

Hi there, Im 17, almost 18 and live in England.

I'm worried that I may mildly depressed. I'v been looking around online at symptoms of mild depression and I feel like the majority of them apply to me. I feel agitated often, like when I'm trying to do work I just get annoyed if I can do something. I also have very little motivation to do the work in the first place. I feel like school is a huge effort, amongst other things also being a huge effort. I also feel tired a lot of the time and tend to be sleeping more than usual more recently.

There are also lots of times where if I start to feel a little lonely I start to exaggerate this into feeling like maybe my friends dont like me as much any more, or that I'm a bad person. Im a little overweight, but I particularly feel like I have little self worth and have very little self confidence. I mean all in all I have a really great life when I think about it, but I still often think negatively. I also saw that depression in teens can lead to drug abuse, and (not wanting to sound like I'm showing off or anything), I do smoke, drink and have been  involved in use in illicit drugs. I'm not sure if this is just me thinking too much into it, but I just wanted to have someone, anyone to talk about it with. I dont feel like I could talk to my parents or friends about it though (not because I dont think they'd care I just feel it would be too awkward). Is there anyone who could shed some light on the situation and give their opinion on whether they think this may be mild depression or just simply a bad mood? Thanks.

[Poo44clooner]

You are not mildly depressed but rather show the classic symptoms of someone who is severely depressed. I have major depression and all of those symptoms that you stated I had. But now my doc finally found the right med for me and am feeling tremendously better.
I would go and see your primary doctor and get a referral to a psychiatrist and get evaluated and diagnosed for proper treatment. You are suffering so much.
But please don't take any illicit drugs of any kind, smoke, or alcohol they mask the situation and you may become an addict. Anyway alcohol is a depressant and you will become more depressed than before. I know I have tried it. I cannot drink more than one drink.
Also talk therapy with the right meds will certainly help you but there are things that you can do for yourself in the meantime and into the future and that is try to eat healthy, no sugary foods because you will crash and burn with the sugar, fatty foods are also not good. Try to eat healthy. Also do your very best to exercise. I know when I was severely depressed my doctor stressed to me to do that and I resisted for the longest time. I at first exercised on the treadmill for 5 minutes every day. The exercise is good for you because there is a definite mind and body connection and also when you exercise your body releases endorphins, a naturally occurring pain killer and mood booster. As I started to feel less depressed or even if I was having one of those days of severe depression I would force myself to exercise, so slowly I went from 5 minutes a day to around 30 minutes a day. I hated the thought of exercising but when I was done I felt a bit happier and had more energy and my attitude changed a bit. My daughter tells me so because she sees the difference in me before and after.
I hope you get the help you desperately need.
Angela

[littlebit667]

If it happens occasisonally and not all the time I am thinking mild depression.  Talk therapy may help to give you some tools to work with to help with the depression.  There are medication options that might help.  I have dealt with depression for years...mild for the most part and meds have helped as has talk therapy.  You may not need the meds if it is indeed mild.  You might use the mood tracker to give you more of an idea how often you feel depressed or anxious.  It is on the right of this page (if it stays that way when you see this).
Do not be afraid to ask for help.  Depression can spiral out of control if you are not proactive in dealing with it.  I hope things work out for you.