# Is something wrong with me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 23, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346 "2001-01-23T02:07:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jenkinsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@jenkinsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jenkinsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/1 "2001-01-23T02:07:17Z")
Ok, I’ve been ignoring this for a long time. I’ve known something was wrong in the back of my mind but I ignored it. I don’t think I can any longer. For the past year or so I have been so bored, unmotivated, and just down in spirits. I used to exercise. I don’t anymore. It’s not that I don’t have the energy, but I just don’t care if I do it or not. I’m constantly eating whenever I’m awake whether I’m hungry or not. I don’t know why. I just have to eat sometimes. (Don’t ask me to explain, I can’t.) Needless to say, my appearance is totally fat and ugly. I used to laugh more and now I don’t. In fact, sometimes an entire week will go by and the best I’ll do is lightly chuckle. I simply don’t find humor in anything. But at the same time, I haven’t been able to cry at all! I’ve had a couple of relatives pass away and I never shed a single tear! It’s not that I don’t miss them, I do, but I can’t cry. Sometimes I want to, but I can’t cry. I feel like I am running on a low tank of gas and I don’t have very many emotions left in my body. Is this a medical condition or just a case of the blahs? BTW, I’ve tried to ignore this whateveritis for quite a while now but friends, family, and even internet aquaintances are noticing that I’m acting down in the dumps. I don’t even feel like witnessing, and of course them I’m really sick. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/2 "2001-01-23T02:15:19Z")
First, go to a doctor. It may be something like a thyroid problem. If there’s no medical cause the doctor will probably send you to a psychologist. What you describe doesn’t sound like depression, but it might be Dysthymic Disorder (a milder but chronic depression). Of course, I’m no professional. That’s why I’m suggesting you talk to one 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/3 "2001-01-23T02:22:17Z")
You appear to be experiencing many classic symtoms of clinical depression. I would strongly suggest that you see a doctor. According to your profile, you are student. I am sure that where ever you are attending school they have counselors to speak to. A physcian will be able to help you with your apparently recent weight gain and may be able to refer you to a mental health professional. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/4 "2001-01-23T05:24:00Z")
As a physician, I concur with Sattua, you sound dysthymic. But I’d need more info to make a definitive diagnosis, something we won’t do over the net. Get to a doc, and tell him all this. And force yourself to get some exercise. For dysthymia, and depression in general, it’s very helpful. It’s easier to act your way into better thinking than think your way into acting better. Good luck, been there myself Qadgop, MD ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/5 "2001-01-23T14:53:13Z")
Well, hey, welcome back! 😃 Were your ears itching? We been talkin’ about you… Go get a thorough physical checkup to rule out any possible physical causes. Blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. And I won’t preach to you about healthy diet, 'cause you know that already, right? 😉 But [_mom voice_] if you’re eating nothing but junk food, no wonder you don’t feel good. Eat an apple once in a while, it wouldn’t kill you… [_/mom voice_] Maybe you just need a new exercise plan. If you’ve been riding a stationary bike, try walking at the mall. (Don’t knock it, it’s a blast. Plus you get first crack at the latest Stephen King bestseller when WaldenBooks finally puts it out on display.) FWIW, everybody goes through this sort of thing every so often. It’s called “being down in the dumps”. Duh. [_mom voice_] Nobody promised it was going to be easy all the time. [_/mom voice_] The fact that you’ve noticed it yourself is a good clue that (a) it’s probably fixable and (b) you’re halfway there already. People who have a personality change, who get real grumpy or sad, and don’t notice it, and when someone points it out to them, they go, “Huh?”, or refuse to believe it, are the ones who have the most problem figuring out what to do, and the condition persists longer. People who have enough self-knowledge to realize, “Hey, I’ve been feeling real down lately” are the ones who are most likely to get it fixed. Re being “fat and ugly”: All I can say is, nobody here at the SDMB gives a rat’s derriere what you look like. We’re ogling your pixels, not your body. Re witnessing: You know, God doesn’t expect you to be “ON” 100% of the time. Even Jesus got tired and went off by Himself every so often. And if you’ll ask Manny to move this over to MPSIMS, you’ll probably get more support than you’ll get from the GQ Big Brain Brigade. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/6 "2001-01-23T16:10:11Z")
How about a psychiatrist? They are a medical doctor & a psychologist in one. If you can afford one. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/7 "2001-01-23T19:17:23Z")
> [@](#): > > from [http://www.save.org/symptoms.html](http://www.save.org/symptoms.html) > > Depression is a medical illness, just like cancer or diabetes.  It is not the “blues”. The blues are normal feelings that eventually pass.  The feelings associated with depression last longer than a couple of weeks.  If your friend has depression, he can’t talk himself out of it.  Your friend isn’t weak and doesn’t have a character flaw.  Having depression isn’t his fault.  Depression affects the whole body – thoughts, feelings, behavior, physical health, appearance, and all areas of a person’s life – home, work, school and social life.  Depression can be treated successfully just like other illnesses. > SYMPTOMS OF MAJOR DEPRESSION > > Not all people with depression will have all these symptoms or have them to the same degree. > If a person has four or more of these symptoms, if nothing can make them go away, and > if they last more than two weeks, a doctor or psychiatrist should be consulted. > > - Persistent sad or “empty” mood. > - Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless, pessimistic and or guilty . > - Substance abuse. > - Fatigue or loss of interest in ordinary activities, including sex. > - Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns. > - Irritability, increased crying, anxiety and panic attacks. > - Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions. > - Thoughts of suicide; suicide plans or attempts. > - Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to treatment. It sounds like you have some of these issues, namely an empty feeling, loss of interest in things that made you happy, and a change in eating habits. Don’t be scared of the diagnosis; the fact that you recognize the problem and want to fix it means you haven’t given up hope and have made a big step already. On a personal note, I have a lot of issues with food and certainly understand the urge to fill that void with food and more food. Recognizing the problem again is a big step in the right direction. I too have felt depressed and yet unable to cry at sad things because you feel drained. [/IANAD] ---
**Author:** ![jenkinsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@jenkinsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jenkinsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-something-wrong-with-me/51346/8 "2001-01-23T21:52:08Z")
Thanks for the answers, guys. I guess I’ll see a doc. BTW, I wonder if he can do anything to stop this itching in my ears? 😉