Q: I have been very down lately and I have been crying a lot. Lately
I have been noticing I have been sleeping a lot too and I don’t want to get up in the morning. My mood can change with in minutes. One moment I can be very happy and the next I can be very sad and about to cry. Things that have happen in the last month that may be causing this would be that my cousin died on Oct. 11 and my roommate/bestfriend is going to be moving out in July to live with her boyfriend. So that means I have to find a new roommate because I don’t want to go back living with my parents(not that I have a problem with them). Is this depression? I have cut my self twice. Once when I was in high school and now this last summer when I got in a fight with my roommate. It’s been bad lately. The only thing that really keeps me going is school and work. I love going to work and I know if that becomes something I don’t like I will be more worried. Another question: do I need to see a family doc. before I can see a therapist or can I just go?
A: First of all I’d like to ask you to read the last few posts that I made to the site. There were some very similar questions to yours about depression and how to go about getting help. Rather than repeating what I wrote, please read those and I will focus on the parts of your question that are different. From what you have described, there is a chance that you could have depression but you would need to have a face to face evaluation to clarify this. However, you also mentioned some recent stressors such as the loss of your cousin and your roommate moving out. Your feelings could just be a temporary reaction to these issues and you need to allow yourself time to grieve your losses and find new ways to cope. The part that concerns me is that you have cut yourself a few times. This is something that I really do suggest you get some help with. If you are a college student, they most likely have a student counseling center you could go to for free or at a reduced rate. If you have health insurance you could go to a psychologist or counselor in private practice. You do not necessarily need to see your family doctor first but sometimes they might be able to give you a referral. Again, I addressed how to find a good therapist in my recent posts. It sounds like you have a lot going for you with a job you like, school and supportive parents. Allow yourself time to adjust to the negative events that have occurred and find a professional to talk to so that things don’t get worse. Good luck and Happy Holidays.
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