16 yr old girl- need advice on symptoms of depression PLEASE

[alexia0362]

Hi everyone, I'm a 16 year old girl and I honestly can't tell if I have depression or not. It's weird because depression seems to be something everyone knows a bit about, but not a lot in depth about it, and I'm one of those people. I feel selfish for even thinking there could be a possibility I have depression. Why I think I COULD have it is because in my head I'm always down, can't get rid of constant negative talks, I think no one likes me, I have no self-confidence at ALL, I eat too much, I think this will all never change, I think everyone around me has a better life than me. The odd thing is, I can put on a happy face around family and friends. My mom and a couple of my closest friends know I can get down sometimes, but I think they think I'm just down for a little while and I'll pick up in an hour, which I guess is a fair assumption as I can appear happy but still have horrible and negative thoughts in my head. I think if I told anyone they'd brush it off and tell me it'll get better. The negative thoughts are to do with my parents being away with work a LOT so my older brother minds me (we get on great but no one can replace your parents), I'm fat, I'm so different from everyone else in EVERY way, and that no one likes me friend wise and will never like me relationship wise. Anyone that has any advice, please, I will be eternally grateful to you!

[Obayan]

There are so many different possible diagnosis out there and the symptoms overlap so drastically and frequently that it really does take a trained professional to adequately diagnose. But to be honest, if you are having to ask if you have depression, chances are you do. Talk to a counselor please. Once you get diagnosed, you can begin treatment. And a diagnosis doesn't "give" you a disorder. It just puts a name to what you are already suffering with.