Are these signs of depression????

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Are these signs of depression????
4
Wed, 01-26-2005 - 9:37pm

Hello, I am exhibiting the following symptoms:
VERY irritable
very heat intolerant
weight loss (huge appetite-though I do get full easily)
ridiculous insomnia
frequent bowel movements (sorry, tmi)
alot of diaarhea this past year (again sorry tmi)
chest pains
racing heart at times
stressed (then again, horrible workplace and now unemployed)
less energy than usual
horrible memory (normally it's OUTSTANDING)

my internist first thought it could be my thyroid but the bloodwork indicated "normal."
She gave an antidepressant, citroplam (generic version of celexa). I'm still ridiculously irritable. Despite the fact I weighed in at 114 lbs today, my size 4 and size 2 pants are loose NOT TIGHT. What gives?

I saw an endocrinologist today...she too is pushing to say it's a mental health issue. It's not that I feel ashamed or anything like that and I certainly DON'T WANT to have medical problems of any kind but well if my work was causing the stress and the symptoms then my not being there anymore should have eliminated these symptoms logically speaking right? Yet these symptoms are still there which is why I'm convinced it's physically something to do with my body and not just the emotional stuff going on in my life.
I guess I do have some adverse feelings about this being a mental health issue but physically I feel awful and it resulted in poor performance at work and resulted in my losing my job. More stress-lack of health coverage at the beginning of February.
Could this be depression?
thanks,
benita

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2005
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 6:20am

benita,

I'm not a doctor, but talking from my personal experience, it sounds like you may have depression. I have pretty much the same symptoms and I've been diagnosed by a regular doctor a psychiatrist and a psychologist as being depressed. How long have you been taking the meds? They usually take a few weeks to have any results.

jerseygirl

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 3:21pm
Hi thanks. I take it you're from New Jersey like me? Where are you from? I'm from Woodbridge in Middlesex County. Really, you have some of the symptoms I mentioned? You were diagnosed by a psychiatrist, regular M.D. I'm so confused by all this. I can accept this being some hormonal physical thing but depression? I don't feel sad. Just frustrated at the way things are going in my life right now (very recently unemployed) but I would think my feelings are normal for someone who just lost their first job.
I'm a strong person, I would never commit suicide or think about doing such a thing. As frustrating as things can be right now, I know there are many out there with much more difficult lives (think Tsunami victims, Iraqis, etc.) I've always been grateful for just being alive and although at times, I've felt like giving up it's only out of frustration over unemployment that has made me think that way. It's a huge stressor. I'm an optimisic person and live with this motto: for every negative there is a positive. I always turn seemingly negative situations into some positive experience. And even being unemployed has led me to some positive experiences which I'm grateful for. I just can't believe this is some mental issue. Where do I go from here?
Benita
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2004
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 6:26pm

Hello I am not a doctor either. I suffer from anxiety and depression. I also have worked for MHMR(mental health and mental retardation) and am currently a medical transcriptionist so I do have vast medical knowledge. It sounds like anxiety and depression to me. Anxiety and panic attacks can cause chest pain like symptoms and increased breathing. Depression can cause sleep problems and many other things you mentioned. I just have been followed by my family doctor for mine. He ran a few tests just a precautionary measures and then I got medication. I went off for a while and now got a new primary care physician and a new medication for my a&d. Depression can definitely be brought on by stress and difficult situations. Good Luck!

Chelle
http://mysite.verizon.net/resoq7xc/

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2003
Thu, 01-27-2005 - 10:54pm

You just described my symptoms almost exactly... And, today I went on prozac for depression and had to schedule counselling at my doctor's request.

I don't know if they're right in their diagnoses of me, though I have no reaosn to doubt them, but the heard what you just told us, and they decided it was either depression or a mood disorder, if that helps you at all.