17 Jul Why I Needed A Doctor For My Depression Part One

Part 1: I was recently diagnosed with depression.

I had a hard time accepting a diagnosis like this; even now it feels weird saying it. I know my mom has depression but I never expected that I would have depression too. Looking back, I guess the problem began when I started losing interest in what my friends were up to and the passion I once had for tennis, began to fade. I never felt like I got a good night’s sleep and didn’t have the motivation to do simple chores around the house.

I told myself that these symptoms were simply the byproduct of recent changes that were going on in my life. I had recently moved and was having difficulty settling into my new surroundings. I figured that if I just got more sleep these recent issues would be resolved.

However, it had become apparent that things were moving in the wrong direction when my friends told me they were worried about me. One friend confessed to me that she herself had struggled with depression in the past and insisted that I look into finding a specialist and getting an evaluation. It took me about three months to find a doctor that fit the bill, and little to my surprise he diagnosed me with depression. I was prescribed an antidepressant.  

Within a few weeks of starting my antidepressant, I began to feel better. I wanted to go out with my friends, and I even took up tennis again. I felt better than I ever had in my life. I had trouble accepting that I had depression, but I now see that acknowledging my diagnosis is the first step towards increasing the quality of my life, and I will forever be glad I took the first step of asking for help. I am thankful for my friends who said something to me.

Medical Perspective:

Depression is NOT just a feeling, IT IS A DIAGNOSIS. Depression has symptoms. It can cause psychological symptoms such as feeling blue or down. In the case above, having no motivation to go out with friends or not enjoying tennis anymore were examples of psychological symptoms. There are physical symptoms such as trouble falling and staying asleep. Cognitive symptoms include being easily distracted, having difficulty making decisions and poor concentration. Being unable to accomplish tasks around the house would be considered poor productivity and is an amalgamation of psychological, physical, and cognitive symptoms.

Depression is also genetic, meaning it can run in families just like high blood pressure. According to Stanford University School of Medicine, a person is two to three more likely of developing depression if depression is present in other family members. Depression is treatable with medication to address the underlying chemical imbalance in the brain.