Chemical Imbalance?

[Silver-winged Flyer]

How do you know if depression is caused by a chemical imbalance?

I get periods of depression and they don't seem to be caused by circumstances.

When do I know if I should try medication? I do self-harm sometimes but my depression is never that bad that I can't have a fairly productive life.

 

[inHisgripkim]

How do you know if depression is caused by a chemical imbalance?

I get periods of depression and they don't seem to be caused by circumstances.

When do I know if I should try medication? I do self-harm sometimes but my depression is never that bad that I can't have a fairly productive life.

If you do any counseling that is something you may want to take up with your therapist. If you do self-harm, antidepressants help with self abuse and ocd issues. It has helped me with my BDD.

Do you feel lethargic or heavy headed at all? That usually is a sign of a chemical imbalance. I had such a thick heade all the time. When I went on celexa that cleared it right up. I had all the energy in the world after that.

Good luck. Don't give up. Press on. Baby steps forward.

Hugs and blessings to you,
inhisgripkim

 

[rosewaning]

As far as I know, in most cases, depression causes a chemical imbalance, not the other way around. I would consult your physician first, and see what s/he recommends. There are evaluations that can be done to determine if medication may work for you.

Personally, I would avoid medication, if there were other ways to deal with the depression (counseling, dietary changes, etc). Medication is not a solution, it is something that you'll have to continue to take. The side effects of antidepressants can also be severe, and in certain people, it can make the depression worse. The nervous system is very complex and sensitive, and tinkering with it always risky.

Could you describe your daily routine (roughly?) Are you pretty active physically? Is your diet well-balanced? Is your job stressful? Making minor changes in your routine (exercising more, improving your diet, reducing stress) can go a long way in helping some people with bouts of depression. I would try this, before attempting any kind of medication.

 

[katylees]

Depression comes from a chemical imbalance in your head sometimes or sometimes can be bought on by a situation (but you said thats not your reason). Maybe go and see your doctor and tell them about it, they will know much more than us about illnesses *hugs* hope things are okay.

 

[Flatscan82]

go see a doctor, they would the ones who would be able to give you a yes or a no. they have the degree and training to make those judgments

 

[Silver-winged Flyer]

If you do any counseling that is something you may want to take up with your therapist. If you do self-harm, antidepressants help with self abuse and ocd issues. It has helped me with my BDD.

Do you feel lethargic or heavy headed at all? That usually is a sign of a chemical imbalance. I had such a thick heade all the time. When I went on celexa that cleared it right up. I had all the energy in the world after that.

Good luck. Don't give up. Press on. Baby steps forward.

Hugs and blessings to you,
inhisgripkim

I don't have a thick head and am not lethargic so maybe its not a chemical imbalance.

 

[Silver-winged Flyer]

As far as I know, in most cases, depression causes a chemical imbalance, not the other way around. I would consult your physician first, and see what s/he recommends. There are evaluations that can be done to determine if medication may work for you.

Personally, I would avoid medication, if there were other ways to deal with the depression (counseling, dietary changes, etc). Medication is not a solution, it is something that you'll have to continue to take. The side effects of antidepressants can also be severe, and in certain people, it can make the depression worse. The nervous system is very complex and sensitive, and tinkering with it always risky.

Could you describe your daily routine (roughly?) Are you pretty active physically? Is your diet well-balanced? Is your job stressful? Making minor changes in your routine (exercising more, improving your diet, reducing stress) can go a long way in helping some people with bouts of depression. I would try this, before attempting any kind of medication.

My daily routine is basically studying for a few hours in the morning then going to work for the afternoon, maybe watching a couple of hours of TV in the evening and hopefully studying again for an hour or so if I'm not too tired. My job keeps me busy but I wouldn't say I'm really stressed.
I don't eat breakfast, I have a light snack for lunch before work then a proper meal for supper.
I don't get much exercise at all.

I have realised one of the reasons why I get depressed is because I have no friends to go out with but that's not always the reason. I don't know what the other reasons could be.

 

[Silver-winged Flyer]

Thanks to everybody who replied for your advice.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

I've had bad experiences with medications so I feel compelled to tell you to avoid them. Try to see a therapist about the self harming stuff.

 

[cac]

I've had bad experiences with medications so I feel compelled to tell you to avoid them. Try to see a therapist about the self harming stuff.

Dont avoid medications if your doctor recomends them, it may take them awhile to get the medicine correct but dont avoid them. Take me for example, without the proper medications Im very violent, way out of control and no amount of therapy ever helped, therapy alone does not always work. It just depends on the seriousness of the situation. I started out diagnosed as having anxiety depression problems but later found out that Im actually Bipolar mixed with intermitent explosive disorder. There are certain types of problems that might be able to be worked out with just therapy but most require both theropy and medication.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Dont avoid medications if your doctor recomends them, it may take them awhile to get the medicine correct but dont avoid them.

My psychiatrist took me off all medications.

 

[Silver-winged Flyer]

I've been to someone once and it did help but I find it difficult to open up to people so it felt like my heart was being ripped out while I was still alive.
Is therapy really better than meds?

 

[Rhylla]

can be, usually find something's kicked off feeling depressed, even if its from years ago. talking can help, though i didn't get on with the counsellor the doctor got me to see. i was too "blah!" to have the energy to talk to anyone else, talked to friends, and wrote a diary instead.
antidepressants took the edge off how i felt, so i could keep going.
wasnt on them long, bout 6 months, then i stopped taking them.
-Rhylla-

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

I think it depends on the type of person and whether or not they find the right type of therapist. I didn't like talk therapy because it seemed so focused on my past, which I can do nothing about. I've been doing goal-oriented therapy for the past year and I'm pretty happy with it.