Diagnosing Depression (do you have to be currently depressed?)

This is probably a dumb question, but…
I think I have season affective disorder. I am not depressed right now, so I would have to wait until I was depressed to get a diagnosis, right? I haven’t been treated for depression since early childhood, so I’m curious how they diagnose things; displaying symptoms seems like the only way they could to me, but is that right?

No, you wouldn’t have to wait until you were depressed. A competent psychiatrist or other mental health professional should be able to assess you pretty well without you having symptoms at the time. I’d suggest contacting one if you want a thorough assessment.

Qadgop, MD

Um, no, you don’t have to wait till you’re chasing your husband around the room with a butcher knife before you ask for help (or until you’re drowning your kids in the bathtub :frowning: ).

Talk to people, find out who helped them, get recommendations. Do a Google search, get information on depression and S.A.D.

Preview. Dang! The Mercotan beat me to it again, how does he do it?! :smiley:

I’d actually suggest that you DON’T wait. If you’re feeling out of sorts then it’s best to treat it early. Prevention is better than cure and all that.

. . . and when you’re depressed, the prospect of actually FINDING and GOING to a therapist will be overwhelming, more likely than not! -

Yeah, the time to find a therapist is now. Beyond that, I second what Qadgop posted: they know what they’re doing, and should be able to find out what’s going on, whether or not you’re in the midst of an “episode”.

So, what can a person do if you believe that a person is depressed but they refuse to seek professional help?

Bernse, there isn’t much you CAN do. Having been on both sides of the coin, I’d say the best thing to do is express your concern, let the person know you’re only saying they need help because you care about them. Emphasize the caring and concern, but don’t harp on the subject.

Meanwhile, if you think you’re depressed but aren’t sure, ask yourself when the last time was that you felt like “yourself”. I lived for nearly 20 years depressed, and it wasn’t until I started on Prozac that I realized how bad my depression was. Once the medication kicked in, I discovered I was feeling like I had when I was a kid, which leads me to suspect my depression started in adolescence. Even now, Spouse looks out for me and reminds me to take my pills if I forget.

One thing to remember, medication is not a CURE, but an assistance. I still feel depressed sometimes, even with the Prozac, but I recognize that it’s normal to sometimes have the blues. However, if they last more than a week or two (and there isn’t a good reason, like a death in the family) that’s when you need to see a doctor and get help. You shouldn’t have to feel bad that long.

Another help is counseling. I went through two and a half years of therapy before I went to the medication. In fact, that’s when I decided my depression might be chemical, since I now knew WHY I felt bad, but didn’t know HOW to feel good again. Still, it was a most necessary experience and I am glad I did it – it did help straighten out my life. I would suggest both in the beginning – counseling to deal with the effects of depression on your life, and the medication (if the doctor so prescribes) to ease the depression itself.