Can you have depression and not know ?
I have always held down a job, I'm married and have 2 great teenagers. 5 yrs ago I was diagnosed with a rare and serious cancer and after surgery and 6 months of weekly chemo was declared well! During the last 5 yrs I've tried hard to be positive , I've been grateful for my life and generally tried to get on with everything and squash down my grief and fear and sadness . With covid and all that the world is going through I decided to get a referral to a psychologist who specializes in helping patients that have been through cancer. At the gp after spending 45 mins and completing a survey and answering many questions she diagnosed me with mild anxiety ( relat ed to covid ) and major depression ! I'm in shock ! Major depression! Can you have depression and not know? My personal self talk is very negative and I'm very sad when no one is around.
6 Replies
Of course you can. You describe all of the symptoms of depression, a lot of people don’t put 2+2 together until it’s pointed out by someone else.
Absolutely you can! I’m so pleased you plan to see a psychologist xx
Surviving cancer is a lot! Try to be kind to yourself!!
Many survivors like yourself never address their feelings with family and friends in order to protect them and their sadness. So seeking an outsiders support will be so worthwhile for you!
You got this mumma! It’s ok to not be ok!!
I'm no expert but I'd certainly say yes, you can. My mum struggled with the symptoms of bipolar disorder for 20 years before she was finally diagnosed, even then it took 3 different doctors in the psychiatric ward to actually get her to believe she had a mental illness, she was just so shocked that she's struggled for so long and not realised!
I wish you all the best in working through this next chapter of your life x
I don't think so. Major depression is debilitating, you struggle with simple every day things and you would not have been able to live your life as normal with severe depression. I think what you're going through is circumstantial, it's quite normal to have negative thoughts after going through cancer since you literally face the possibility of death you start looking at it differently and just accepting things that we normally wouldn't accept. I really don't like people being diagnosed through surveys.
I know someone with major depressive disorder, I 100 percent agree with you.
You know it you just haven’t acknowledged it. Sometimes people don’t know the symptoms and once it’s pointed out it’s like a light bulb. You’ve taken a great first step. Don’t let it finish there, find a counsellors/therapist/social worker/psychologist to meet with regularly. If medication is required consult a psychiatrist who Has specialist training in the medications needed for major depression. GPs are good but many antidepressants, anti anxiety meds can have serious side effects and be difficult to withdraw from if and when the time comes.