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Comment by ip26 | Hacker News Reader

It's hard to know if you are clinically depressed. I've asked myself the question many times, and can never really say for sure.

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I never thought of myself as depressed. Then I tried to sign up to be part of a Stanford Study, and the person reviewing my answers to a questionnaire rejected me for depression and said I should get help.

It was absolutely shocked at the time. But in hindsight the frequency with which I considered ending my life should have been a clue.

Most people never ever think about suicide.

You might consider if you fit with "complex PTSD" or "childhood emotional neglect". This seems common among high-achieving tech people.

"Most people never ever think about suicide"

That was such a huge insight to me that I still struggle with it almost 15 years later.

It's like a Fish out of the fishbowl moment, discovering that other peoples inner dialogue can be so much more positive.

Usually if everyone around you would say you're one of the happiest people and you think you're also one of the saddest you are depressed.

"Happiness has nothing on the overcompensations for misery" - Huxley

If you're sad for a good/known reason you probably won't feel the need to overcompensate.

Edit: I do not mean to say people who don't meet this criteria aren't depressed in any way shape or form.

https://www.mdcalc.com/phq-9-patient-health-questionnaire-9 . You deserve to feel happy and enjoy life. Don't let a stigma about mental illness prevent you from getting treatment (therapy and/or antidepressants) if you feel like you could benefit.

Clinical depression is diagnosed when 1) its ongoing over 6 months or more and 2) it's having a detrimental effect on your life or the lives of those around you

Roughly speaking of course

You are correct for point 2, but as far as 1 goes: major depressive disorder (what most people mean when they say "clinical depression") requires only two weeks of anhedonia/decreased mood plus a few more symptoms to be diagnosed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t5/. Which is interesting, because a significant number of mental health conditions do require 6 months of ongoing symptoms e.g. generalized anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. First line treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy and an SSRI.

Cool. I had some annoying friends ask me if when I was referring to a depressed period, I was clinically depressed. (It sounded so dismissive to me, to ask if it was clinically or not.) Never really knew what it would mean (to be open about it, it affected me for years.. and I consider it over nowadays :).

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