If you are feeling depressed then you probally are feeling down unless this is a reoccuring thing. If you have been feeling this way for a while I would suggest seeing a counsler!! If you don't feel like it is that bad, try to look at why things are making you sad, sit down and write, don't stop for about 20 minutes. You will be shocked at what you can learn about yourself when you run out of things to write and things you never really felt were a problem start to show themselves!!! Good luck
lisa (still a little depressed but getting better at seeing life as a great thing)

I agree with lisa, whether you're depressed or just down depends on how long you have been this way & how bad it is & maybe on why.

So yes, try writing down all your feelings, - what makes you feel good & what makes you feel bad or sad? What leads you to think about the world without you in it? & how you think this - I mean is it, have I donme anything worthwhile or is it the world/my family would be better off without me.

When did this start & what triggered it, if you know or was it a series of things??

Hey sheree,i too am depressed and htere are alot of reasons.I'd fill ya in but some people don't know what the hell they are talkin about,or just talk caca.I tried alot of things,and it only maskes it.I cry all the time and I even started a journal.Your'e not alone hun.If you ever need to talk e-mail me.

Well shree if u cry with some reason then better stay away from that reason for while then try not to think about it.This will prevent depression a bit.

Maybe you can try being more honest with your friends. I know that when I feel like I don't express how i'm really feeling, I feel worse. Being emotionally honest is a big part of true friendship.

Best wishes,
testtest

Sounds like good advice to me.

I noticed that you are from michigan. I am from the upper peninsula, and up here I see a lot of people get depressed in the winter time. There is an illness called seasonal depressive disorder, where people get "depressed" from the lack of natural sunlight (which we don't get a lot of here in the u.P. In the winter time). Maybe you could try one of those artificial sun lights that are designed to substitute indoor light for natural sunlight and make you feel a little better. You can probably find one at your drug store. Or try just getting outside and taking a walk or maybe go skiing or something like that. If none of this helps, then maybe you have a chemical imbalance in your brain that is causing you to be so sad all the time. This also is a real problem that more and more people are suffering from, but there are solutions - both natural and pharmaceutical. If you get to the point where nothing seems to be helping see your doctor and talk with him/her about trying some anti-depressants or maybe starting to take saint john's wart, which is a natural anti-depressant that you can get over the counter. I hope this helps - and if you need to talk to someone you can email me. Good luck!!!