When does unhappiness become depression?

Question

Events of the past 4 years have left me feeling sad and let down;

death of father

death of grandmother

death of ex

birth of first child

child's father horrified that I got pregnant and refuses to live as a family

death of favourite pet

moving to an area I don't like much because the schools are good

best 3 friends relocating overseas

I think for 3 years the novelty of having a baby kept the pain of everything else from hitting me but now I feel completely hopeless. I have no life, no one ever visits us, I don't want to spend my life alone but can't see a way to change things. No money for babysitters. Friends are all smug marrieds so hard to find someone to playwith anyway.

I find myself tearful and overly emotional about everything. All I can focus on is everyone I have lost and I can't see any point in life. Is this just sadness or a depression that can be helped with medication. I have always considered myselft to be rock solid mentally stable but now I doubt that's the case any longer. Please let me know what you think. My ex is a psychiatrist and as a result I am so reluctant so spend time with them, they just hand out medication rather then getting to the bottom of things.

Answer 1

Have you considered a grief counselor? They wouldn't be quick to medicate and probably aren't licensed to do so anyway.  

Answer 2

Unhappiness becomes depression when you are not able to function normally. You are right about the psychiatrists, because pills are no answer. Your situation is complex and you could benefit from counseling.

Answer 3

It's quite probable that you have depression. I think anybody would find it near impossible to deal with all that in a short space of time. I think you should see a doctor and see if they can refer you to a specialist who can help you try and deal with the emotions ans state of mind. I wouldn't recommend medication, mind you doctors aren't that willing to prescribe them because most of the factors contributing to depression need to be sorted out. Pills don't do that I'm afraid

Hope it all gets better, I know how it feels  

Answer 4

i think depression is when the unhappiness takes you over COMPLETELY. where you feel like nothing is worth doing, have no motivation for anything (even things you really love), dont care or notice how you are hurting otheres (in SOME cases, not yours though : ]), etc.

you dont deserve to feel like this and will only get worse if you dont talk to someone you trust or talk to a counsellor. remember that evevn though its difficult, there is always someone to talk to. i felt this way for AGES and felt totally hopeless and suicidal, but noone understood why cos i kept it all to myself. tell someone and they will try to help you just like what happened to me .

good luck : ]