No one wants to know that they have a medical problem that can be chronic and debilitating. When you think of a diagnosis like this you may think of things like cystic fibrosis or cancer, but there are illnesses of the mind that can have a profound effect on your quality of life. Just as if you were diagnosed with cancer and you go out to get treatment to try to beat it, you should go out and get a depression diagnosis, if this is what ails you, to try to overcome it. Thankfully, depression is a lot easier to manage than cancer. However, that does not mean you should just let it go without getting help.
If you think of getting a depression diagnosis as someone labeling you with a mental illness, you may not want to do anything about it to avoid the stigma of it. However, depression is nothing more than another medical issue that needs to be managed. Don't let your impressions of those with depression affect your decision to get help. A depression diagnosis is not the end of the world. In fact, it may be the beginning of a whole new world of which you have never dreamed, a better life, and better relationships.
When you suspect that you are depressed, you can go see your doctor. They have a series of questions they are going to ask you to see if a depression diagnosis fits what you are feeling and going through. They will want to know about your eating and sleeping patterns, how you deal with problems, how you feel mentally throughout the day, if you have irregular aches and pains not associated with a medical condition or accident, and if there is a history of mental illness in your family. It is important to be honest about all of your answers so you know if the depression diagnosis is correct or not.
Your doctor may ask you may more questions, and some of them may not seem related to depression. Answer them honestly as well. They may be trying to rule out something else before they decide the depression diagnosis is right for you. Once they have decided that you are depressed, they may ask you about suicidal urges to better understand where you are in your depression. They can start you out on an antidepressant right away, and they may then refer you to a psychiatrist. They do this so because a psychiatrist is a specialist and can better help you manage or change medications as needed.
Along with medication, many doctors will recommend that you see a therapist when you get a depression diagnosis. This is because depression is tricky, and we often do not deal well with problems under depression like we would otherwise. A good therapist can help you sort out what is bothering you and help you find a whole new way to look at life and problems while the medication helps you with your depression symptoms. For most people, the powerful combination of the right dosage of the right medication and a good therapist is the positive change that those with a depression diagnosis need to turn their lives around.