Comments on: Depression Symptoms Should be Taken Seriously

By: LillyB

LillyB — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:17:59 +0000

Your doctor is doing you a favour. There is no test for bipolar – just info in the psychiatrists "bible" which is largely provided by the pharmaceutical companies. If you get the label then no doubt you will want medication. But you know what, the medication doesn’t work. You get better from depression when you choose to. STop looking for something to be wrong with you, work out what is not right with your life and then get on with it. Life is not always happy. If you are not willing to go through the unhappy times then there will not be happy times – you can’t have one without the other. What would you prefer – some grey existence down the middle? Or a real life which is a combination of joy and sadness?
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By: steel9maiden

steel9maiden — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:15:59 +0000

You can ask for a second opinion if your current doctor is useless.
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By: Daniel

Daniel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:13:59 +0000

How long you known this particular doctor? It could be that he known you at a personal level, and just don’t see you as this type of person or don’t believe you to be that type of person.

In anycase, it would be wise not to trust online "doctors" because pretty much anyone can pretend to be a doctor and tell you about a particular medication you need. Just be careful, and never self-diagnose any disorder you may think you have. Just look at Y!A and see how many people have "Dr" in front of their user names, that doesn’t mean that they’re actually doctors and why would a doctor come on here and make suggestions without knowing who you are?
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By: Jonathan H

Jonathan H — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:11:59 +0000

My heart goes out to you. I had a bout with depression about two years ago. It is serious and it is real. I applaud you for trying to be proactive and seeking treatment. Many people try to just get through it on their own and that is a difficult lonely road. As far as your doctor goes, he works for you. Just like anything else, if you are not receiving satisfactory care, you need to find a doctor that will help you live a healthy, productive life. Your health is the most important thing here, so get the help you need!
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By: Anatomy

Anatomy — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:09:59 +0000

first of all, you dont get tested for bipolar disorder, because THERE IS NO TEST FOR BILPOLAR DISORDER!!!

depression does not ever "get more severe with time" and progress to bipolar disorder, not in the way youre describing. depression can get severe, but when it does it requires psychiatric hospitalization (in-patient, type stuff as it is a severe illness).

if you develop bipolar disorder you would know, because a manic phase will also land you in psychiatric hospitalization as people in manic phases have little to no ability to function. often people in manic phases have 911 called on them due to their psychotic behavior.

as far as your depression goes, you need to see a psychiatrist to get treated properly. if youre seeing a family MD, youre not seeing the right sort of specialist. internist are not qualified to treat depression. why they try is beyond me! your MD probably doesnt think youre a hypochondriac, he probably just doenst know how to treat depression as he was NEVER trained to do so.

good luck with your depression. i hope you can find someone more capable of treating you. best wishes.
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By: Hedge Witch

Hedge Witch — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:07:59 +0000

Ask to see a different doctor
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By: Caz2711

Caz2711 — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:05:20 +0000

How to I get my doctor to take my depression seriously?
I am 21, and from early teenage years have suffered from depression. However, as I have progressed with age this depression has become more severe, leading me to think I may have Bipolar disorder. I have researched the symptoms and I’m pretty sure I fit the description, but my doctor does not seem to want to test me for the illness. I think it is because he has assumed that my depression was teenage related and now he sees me as some sort of hypochondriac. I have even went as far as to ask online doctors to confirm my symptoms to check its not all in my head, but they all agree I should be tested. How can I convince my doctor to test me?