Am I Depressed?

This article, Am I Depressed?, discusses how depression may manifest in different forms for different people, and how various forms of depression may be addressed either with psychotherapy and counseling alone, or with psychotherapy or counseling combined with medication.

Questioner: Sometimes for no apparent reason I begin to feel terribly sad and lonely, and I wonder if life really is worth living. A friend told me that my brain chemistry was off, and gave me some of her Zoloft [antidepressant medication] but taking it did not seem to help at all. My friend said that if I really was depressed, the medication would have made me feel better, so she says I am not depressed, only sad because of things that have happened in my life. She said that depression is a disease, and not just feelings of sadness. But what is the difference between sadness and depression, and, even though the Zoloft did not help, could I still really be depressed?

---J.T., Cabo San Lucas, Baja California

Dr. Robert: Your letter raises many questions, and I will try to take them one by one. But the most important point is this: depression is not merely sadness. True depression is a serious condition which, without proper treatment, almost always gets worse. And, the longer depression is allowed to continue without proper intervention, the harder it becomes to treat.

Now, “depression” is not just one particular condition, but rather the word is applied to many different combinations of states of mind, bodily experiences, and emotional attitudes. For example, Person X, in mourning for a beloved partner, relative, or dear friend, might feel extremely sad for a long time, and might also wonder if life is worth living without the continued presence of the beloved, but this person might not be depressed in the sense of suffering from a disease which needs medical attention. Ordinarily, with the passage of time, the normal healing process inherent in mourning comes full circle, and the sadness will change into acceptance, understanding, and, often, a richer view of life. If help is needed, some psychotherapy might be appropriate, usually without the use of medication.

Someone else, Person Y, might apparently feel much less “sad,” than Person X, but other indications would tell a trained professional that Person Y is depressed in the clinical sense, and that both psychotherapy and medication are required--perhaps urgently.

A third person, Person Z, might have few feelings of sadness at all, or none, but still might be depressed in a way which will require treatment. Depression is not always marked by feelings of sadness. Sometimes depression manifests through other symptoms, such as loss of interest in life, inability to enjoy activities previously enjoyed, sudden changes in eating and sleeping patterns, sudden weight gain or weight loss, feelings of unworthiness, and many other indications which will suggest to the professional that treatment for depression may be indicated.

This is all to say that your friend, while probably well-intentioned, has misled you. Depression is a complicated group of disorders, and without proper training and a detailed interview no one can properly diagnose depression nor properly rule it out. If you suspect that you are suffering from depression, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. I say “as soon as possible,” because some types of depression worsen quickly without appropriate treatment, and depression itself damages the brain in ways which are still mysterious. If the sadness or other symptoms are accompanied by ongoing feelings that life is not worth living, which may be a form of suicidal ideation, seeking help is particularly urgent.

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Your friend misled you in another way too. Even if medication is indicated, depression should never be treated with antidepressants alone. Numerous studies suggest, and all of my responsible colleagues agree, that any chemical treatment must be combined with psychotherapeutic counseling in order to produce optimal results in treating depression, and that psychotherapy is the first step, not medication. So even if you had responded in some way to the Zoloft, you would still not have been receiving the proper treatment. This is because deficiencies in brain chemistry do not cause depression as many people believe. Such deficiencies in brain chemistry are just as likely to be the results of previous mistreatment, abuse, and other real life experiences which damage the brain, and alter its chemical balance, resulting in depressed thinking. This common misunderstanding (a version of the old question: “which came first the chicken or the egg?”) produces a world of confusion in the popular attitudes towards depression which, these days, imagine that depression can be cured simply by taking pills.

To repeat this important point: proper treatment of depression begins with a psychotherapeutic interview. Then, if medication is necessary, it will be accompanied by counseling aimed at improving point of view. If your medical doctor tries to give you antidepressant medication without also suggesting some form of professional counseling, as some unfortunately are doing these days, in my opinion you should find a new doctor. If you go to the testimonials page you will be able to read what my colleague, Dr. Najar, of Cabo San Lucas, a medical doctor, has to say on this subject.

If you suspect that you may be depressed, a good first step would be to fill out this on-line questionnaire, and this self test. If you score very low on both, you may feel fairly confident that you are not severely depressed. But, if your score is not low, and if life has felt unsatisfactory for a prolonged time, and continues to feel that way, I would suggest an interview with a trained psychotherapist (not a new-age kind of counselor, nor a guru, and certainly not a well-meaning friend). Such an interview, which should not require more than a single meeting, ought to be able either to diagnose depression or rule it out. In addition, even if depression is ruled out, such an interview could prove to be the starting point for a course of therapy aimed at improving your perspective on the value and possibilities of this often-challenging experience we call “life.”

I cannot leave this topic without addressing your friend’s having shared her medication with you. That was not a good idea. Zoloft is not aspirin, and fooling around with brain chemistry is not a joke. I know that here in Mexico such medicines are readily available without a prescription, but that does not mean they are safe to use without proper medical supervision, including a complete physical exam prior to beginning the medication. I hope you will understand this take it to heart.

If you wish to discuss your situation with me personally, please make an appointment.

Be well.

Author: Dr. Robert Saltzman, Ph.D.
Website: http://www.dr-robert.com/