Using the Internet as a Resource for Depression

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Reader’s Question

I am 20, female, and I have had depression for almost ten years. I want to get rid of it. I am gaining weight. I feel like a loser.

I have no social contacts because where I am living is not a populated town. I have only one friend, no siblings.

I don’t feel comfortable with my parents because I can’t share my feelings with them. Their way of thinking is different than mine. They love me a lot, but still I can’t share everything with them.

At the age of 16 I had a boyfriend. I met him on Yahoo, but recently we broke up because he started ignoring me. I don’t know what his problem is.

I attempted suicide at the age of 13 and again at 14, but I failed. I almost feel like I am the worst person on earth.

Please give me some advice.

Psychologist’s Reply

I am glad you are reaching out for help. You have named a number of concerns, including depression, a history of suicide attempts, a lack of support from others, and few resources in your hometown. Typically, I would begin by providing information about psychotherapy and medication, which are the first line treatment choices for depression. If you were open to treatment and had access to a health provider, it might be worth checking with him or her about local options for depression treatment. I say this because you mentioned feelings of worthlessness (e.g. I am the worst person on earth), hopelessness, suicidal thoughts and actions, weight gain, and depressed mood, which are indeed symptoms of depression.

Another way to determine if there are local resources is to do a quick online search that includes keywords such as your town’s name and something like, “depression resources” or “mental health providers.”

Some key benefits of treatment include connecting with someone else, obtaining information about what is happening in your body and mind, and developing ideas for how change or improvement might occur. So, with those ideas in mind, let’s talk about ways you might seek those things out for yourself if professional help is not available in your town. Based on the fact that you have come to this website and that you had a relationship via Yahoo, you seem to be a person who is able to access and effectively use the Internet. The Internet might provide options for connection with others, information, and even ideas for change.

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First, you might be able to use the Internet to your advantage to connect with others. Internet boards or forums are places where people can come together and share stories and information regarding common experiences. Several such discussion boards are available; the idea is to find a community of people online who can interact with you in a supportive manner and relate to what you are experiencing. A caveat to this is that the advice and experiences of others may or may not be relevant for you. Online relationships can be both positive and negative, just as real-life relationships are. As with any community, you might find that some folks are supportive or helpful, and some are the opposite (e.g. judgmental, critical, mean). Proceed with the same caution and judgment that you would use with in-person relationships.

There are also cautions regarding information searches on the Internet.

In general, check the sources of the information you read. You might or might not have read my credentials or reviewed the material on this website before you posted a question. This answer is one opinion from one psychologist, and you have every right to evaluate both the source of the information and whether or not the information is helpful to you.

Some websites will offer helpful information about depression, and others may have information that is lacking or even inaccurate. A general rule of thumb regarding Internet information is to note the source, including who is sponsoring or hosting the site. Some websites are hosted by companies whose goal is to sell you a product. You might take benefit from information there, but it is wise to keep in mind that the information might be somewhat slanted in order to sell you their product.

A search of “depression blogs” generates results for many blogs about people’s personal experiences with depression. Blogs are great for stories and first-person accounts, which can be entertaining, uplifting, or even helpful. But again, someone else’s experience may or may not be relevant for you.

Websites hosted by the government or a research university often provide information that is supported by research by scientists or professionals. Generally, this information will be applicable to a broader portion of the population (but not everyone!). As you can see, finding helpful and accurate information online is a project in and of itself. With that said, here are two websites that might be of interest to you.

Authentic Happiness is a website based on the tenets of Positive Psychology, a theory originated by Martin Seligman, PhD. It is part of a research project by Dr Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania and includes questionnaires and tools aimed at helping people develop, understand and pursue their own path to happiness.

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health conducts large-scale research on mental health and provides information about various mental health disorders, including depression.

I hope you can find ways to gain support, feel better, and resolve the symptoms that bother you. It can certainly be a challenge in remote or isolated areas. Good luck to you.

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