Depressed

[SKY250]

How do you know if someone is depressed. My sister is a little down in the dumps as i call it. She said she feels like crying all the time and thinks its just the stress with her mother in law taking over with her kid who is always interfering. Its not postnatal depression because she copes great with the kids thats the only time you see a smile on her face. Should i suggest she see a doctor or just confront her mother in-law who i think is the real problem for her.

Thanks in advance

[David H]

Mainly a matter of degree.

If you amplify normal feelings of depression, that's what clinical depression is like. There are few if any limits how bad it can get.

But it only becomes a medical problem when it is regular (not necessary to be continuous, only a percentage of the day) and lasts more than a few weeks. Then it has become chronic depression and needs treatment. Otherwise time will allow it to go on its own if less persistent than this.

[mickey pratt]

not saying it is this .but my wife was slightly depressed and the problem was a underactive thyoid gland pops a pill a day happy as larry now hope this helps.

[rosyrussell]

~It may be possible that she is suffering from depression - probably a good idea for her to talk to her gp about it and maybe get a referral for some counselling - that may help her to discuss her problems freely and find a solution and make her feel less helpless. Get her to talk to her partner about it and maybe he could have a gentle word with his mother - she may not realise that her involvement is getting too interferring.

[gsm1973]

She needs to go to a doctor, if depression is suspected the doctor should ask a set of questions which are pretty standard. After that it's deciding on the course of action which could be a course of anti-depressants; counselling or both.

She needs support from her partner as well to help deal with the in-law situation because that clearly isn't helping

[SKY250]

Thanks alot to you all! I will try have another talk with her it won't hurt for her to see her GP