Does depression run in families? my dad commit suicide a few weeks ago n im feeling down, im 14 and just?

Question

wondering if i go to the doctors what will they say?

is there any pills that can make u feel better?

i dont want to fall as deep as my dad did but im finding it hard..?

Answer 1

Mental illness like schizophrenia or maniac depression can run in families, but depression isn't always a mental disorder.  Sometimes it's caused by external factors, and it's just a natural reaction that lessens on its own.  It's important to know which triggered your father's suicide.

It's completely understandable that you are depressed right now - you're grieving the loss of your father.  I'd be worried if you WEREN'T a little depressed.  You're also a teen, so you haven't yet developed the mental resources and experience that helps adults deal with loss.

We can't know what the doctor would say, because we don't know your medical history, or the history of your family, or the extent of your current symptoms.  That's why no one can ever give you a complete and accurate diagnosis online.  

It's unlikely that a doctor will just toss you some Prozac and say that will take care of everything.  (If they do, you need to switch doctors pronto.)  They will probably recommend that you speak with a therapist who specializies in grief or in depression, or that you join a support group.  This is probably the most helpful course of action.  Pills might make your body "feel" happy, just like eating chocolate after a break up makes your body "feel" happy, but it doesn't cure the heartache or help you understand the problem.  At best, it just takes the edge off your pain so you can concentrate on fixing it; at worst, it masks the pain so you can ignore it.

Ask for help now, before you get lost on that dark road.  Learn from your father's mistake.

Answer 2

Yes!  This does run in families and it is totally normal for you to feel this way.  

You just went through a traumatic event.  You need to talk to people.  It might seem like the last thing you want to do, but you have to be brave an do it.  Talking about your father and how you are feeling will be the most therapeutic thing you can do for yourself.  

I would definitely suggest seeking professional help.  Ask your mom (or guardian) to help you find a mental health professional on her insurance plan.  I guarantee she will be so happy you came to her for help.  

Answer 3

No, depression does not run in families. I'm not surprised,however, that you're feeling down if your dad just committed suicide. I would probably be pretty upset if my dad just died, too. But you still might want to go see a doctor/psychiatrist, because the fact that your dad committed suicide could make you become depressed as well. And yes, if you go to the doctors, there are some pills that they could give you, but you don't want to take them unless you REALLY need them, because otherwise, they can have some pretty serious side effects. But if you need them, they're worth it.

Answer 4

First of all, please accept my condolences on the loss of your Dad. I lost a friend to suicide 9 years ago, and few pains come as close. It's natural to feel down after something like this. It's natural to feel alone and empty.

There is a genetic component to clinical depression--the type of depression which renders you unable to function (go to school, go to work). That doesn't mean that you will get depressed or stay depressed or that, if you do become depressed, that it will ever go as deep as your Dad's. Many millions of people are depressed but only a small percentage take their lives. So, your Dad's path does not have to be your path.

That said, depression is an illness. A serious illness. You're doing right in reaching out to the Yahoo community and to others. You will also do yourself a world of good if you seek counseling at this time. The doctor may decide to prescribe medications for you to take for awhile (Zoloft, Prozac,etc). No one can sort this out on their own. Not a person who is 40, and certainly not someone who is 14.

My prayers, my best thoughts out to you and your family.

Answer 5

I'm sorry for your loss.

in answer to your question, if you went to a doctor, he would probably send you to a grief counsellor to help you come to terms with the loss of your dad.

there are pills but i would see your doctor and maybe go down the talking therapy route rather than medication as you will be on the medication for a long time.

i hope everything looks brighter soon, good luck x