What Constitutes as “depression”? I Feel Like There’s No Reason to Live but I’m Not Suicidal?

by SpaceShoe [Learning to live with the crisis]

Question by Drizzy: What constitutes as “depression”? I feel like there’s no reason to live but I’m not suicidal?
Ever since the beginning of middle school/junior high, I’ve felt like mentally i’ve been on a slow spiral downhill. I got picked on a lot(everyday) for almost 2 years and I know a lot of kids go through this but it has really affected my perception of life. I’m not sure if the bullying is to blame 100% but I feel it has a good deal to do with the depressed feelings I have had that seemed to begin there.

In the last 3-4 years, these feelings have gotten worse because I feel like life/college/achieving success is hopeless. I started taking an antidepressant almost 6 months ago and it has helped my depressed mood out a lot, but I still feel there is something missing. Normal things like having a steady job, girlfriend, even FRIENDS are things that seem almost impossible(i have bad ADD and social anxiety as well). I use drugs(various pills/weed/alcohol) all the time as a temporary escape from reality. Coincidently, these drugs make my problems disappear for a few hours and the wall of moral firmness I once held as a youth has long since crumbled. Put the 2 and 2 together and you have a recipe for chaos.

I started seeing a doctor almost a year ago and I feel like I have grown a lot since then, but there’s still stuff missing(like I mentioned above). Every attempt that I have made towards those has ended up in failure and pain. I still have SOME hope which I feel is the Wellbutrin XL is mostly responsible for because I was headed down a REALLY bad pathway in life before starting it. But there isn’t a magic pill that solves everyones issue so I guess I will continue my search and keep my head up. I feel that if I can solve my problems with social anxiety and ADD(take Adderall on an as needed basis), then I might have a fighting chance in making it in life successfully. The only people that push me to be the best are my close family and I love them dearly so I know I have to make it in life so they can be proud.

Sorry it was so long, but does anybody have an remedies/pills/info that has helped them in regards to social anxiety? Is there a pill for that lol??

Best answer:

Answer by Kyle J
“Depression” is the excuse people use to take “depression medicine”. It sounds like this is what you have done too, but don’t worry. I’m not here to bash on you. When I hear about people in your situation I feel for them. I really do. I’ll tell you something though.

Lately I’ve been reading a book and it has literally changed my whole perspective of life. I feel like I can do, be, feel ANYTHING that I want. It is a great feeling and it’s because of this book that I’ve been reading. The book is called “Keys To Success” and it is by “Napolean Hill”. Buy it (or get it from the library like me), read it, and then apply it. If you don’t do that last part, apply it, the good feelings the book brings will only last a short time. But if you follow the principles it talks about, you won’t even be able to feel depressed because you’ll be doing only that which you most love.

Sorry mine was long too, I just wanted to help.

Answer by Logan
No comment. I’m just an astrophysics student… :/

I would try asking this question in the Psychology section, you might get more informative answers there… and less insurance salesbots. But if the average “psychologist” there is anything like the average “philosopher” here, you might just want to cut to the chase and call a therapist or somewhere with a higher level of professionalism than Y!A.

What do you think? Answer below!

Ian Thorpe: My suicidal thoughts, depression and drinking – Ian Thorpe, who won five Olympic gold medals and set numerous world records during his swimming career, suddenly quit in 2006 saying he no longer enjoyed it …

Are you seeing RED?
Too much alcohol is also linked to health problems such as liver damage, cancer, dementia, depression, seizures, nerve damage and pancreatitis. And don't assume if you are a teetotaler that you are off the hook for blood pressure dangers, either. Dr … Read more on Highlands Today

How to cope with PTSD
People suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) need treatment as soon as possible because if not treated it may place the person at a higher risk of other mental health problems like depression, eating disorders, drug or alcohol abuse … Read more on Times of India