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What Causes Depression?
Question: Hi I am starting to think that I might have teenage depression because I always fell like there is no point to continue living and I have been struggling with cutting ( self harm )
I don't know what age it can start at or how likely it is that I have it ?
Any help would be very much appreciated
XXXX
I don't know what age it can start at or how likely it is that I have it ?
Any help would be very much appreciated
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Yes it is possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
From what you have stated it is quite clear that you are having a depressive episode. Depression can occur with regular stress and it can also occur biologically without any stress as well. yes it can occur at 15 years of age. You need proper treatment for the same. There are various effective therapies for depression like fluoxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, mirtazapine or escitalopram and they are all very effective and mostly safe. You may also require some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or lorazepam for a short period like 2-3 weeks to reduce the anxiety and help with your sleep.
If you are averse to the drug therapies then there is also an option of cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy is taken by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist in which the therapist identifies impaired cognitions (Thoughts) and try to correct them. They are 15-20 min weekly session and there should be around 8-10 sessions to help you with your illness.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Yes it is possible
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query.
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
From what you have stated it is quite clear that you are having a depressive episode. Depression can occur with regular stress and it can also occur biologically without any stress as well. yes it can occur at 15 years of age. You need proper treatment for the same. There are various effective therapies for depression like fluoxetine, venlafaxine, bupropion, mirtazapine or escitalopram and they are all very effective and mostly safe. You may also require some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or lorazepam for a short period like 2-3 weeks to reduce the anxiety and help with your sleep.
If you are averse to the drug therapies then there is also an option of cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy is taken by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist in which the therapist identifies impaired cognitions (Thoughts) and try to correct them. They are 15-20 min weekly session and there should be around 8-10 sessions to help you with your illness.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy
Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
On a different but not unrelated topic I have been hearing voices and seeing animals and ghosts and feeling things that aren't there and they tell me to cut ( self harm ) and kill myself and I don't know what to do.is there something wrong with me or is this a normal thing to occur at age 15 even though they started when I was 10 years old.
Here is some more information:-
There are 15 in total and they all tell me to kill myself and that every one would be better of without me and that I should never have been born and they say that I know how to kill myself but I don't because I want other people to suffer because of me being alive and by killing myself I would be saving others the pain of having me around. They also say that my only 3 friends stay because they want to take advantage of me but if don't think that is true but they keep saying that my friends and family want me dead so that I don't make their lives horrible.
But I can't say that to anyone face to face or they stop me and the only way I can write it down to tell you is because they say that no one will take me seriously so it doesn't matter but when I day it out loud they will hear the truth in my voice.
They tell me to cut to let them out but when I do they say that they won't leave and then they tell me to keep doing it and when I have done it enough to let them leave they will leave but that could be to the point of death ( depth of the cut - too deep ) I don't think that cutting too deep is an issue cause I don't want to cut but if I want to get rid of them then they say that I have to.Please reply to my earlier message.
I have tried to kill myself once by overdosing in insulin, once by trying to suffocate myself and 2 times by cutting I don't want to die but I want the voices to stop.
I need help but no one will listen to me and I don't know what too do any more.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks for your help
Anne, age 15 years
Here is some more information:-
There are 15 in total and they all tell me to kill myself and that every one would be better of without me and that I should never have been born and they say that I know how to kill myself but I don't because I want other people to suffer because of me being alive and by killing myself I would be saving others the pain of having me around. They also say that my only 3 friends stay because they want to take advantage of me but if don't think that is true but they keep saying that my friends and family want me dead so that I don't make their lives horrible.
But I can't say that to anyone face to face or they stop me and the only way I can write it down to tell you is because they say that no one will take me seriously so it doesn't matter but when I day it out loud they will hear the truth in my voice.
They tell me to cut to let them out but when I do they say that they won't leave and then they tell me to keep doing it and when I have done it enough to let them leave they will leave but that could be to the point of death ( depth of the cut - too deep ) I don't think that cutting too deep is an issue cause I don't want to cut but if I want to get rid of them then they say that I have to.Please reply to my earlier message.
I have tried to kill myself once by overdosing in insulin, once by trying to suffocate myself and 2 times by cutting I don't want to die but I want the voices to stop.
I need help but no one will listen to me and I don't know what too do any more.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks for your help
Anne, age 15 years
Brief Answer:
Psychotic depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for all the additional information.
The matter that you have stated suggests that along with depression there are significant psychotic symptoms as well. It could be a psychotic depression. YOu will need an antidepressant along with an anti psychotic. A combination or fluoxetine and olanzapine has been apporoved for this illness by the FDA. You certainly need to see a psychiatrist who can provide you with a prescription and if the symptoms are bad and you feel that you may even harm yourself then please don't hesitate to go to the Er and get admitted for the same.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Psychotic depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for all the additional information.
The matter that you have stated suggests that along with depression there are significant psychotic symptoms as well. It could be a psychotic depression. YOu will need an antidepressant along with an anti psychotic. A combination or fluoxetine and olanzapine has been apporoved for this illness by the FDA. You certainly need to see a psychiatrist who can provide you with a prescription and if the symptoms are bad and you feel that you may even harm yourself then please don't hesitate to go to the Er and get admitted for the same.
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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