Ask Julie: Am I Depressed?

[dropcap]Q: [/dropcap]So five months ago, I moved from Chicago to a new school. I thought it would be great to move to a new school, but I was wrong. It isn’t and I'm still not making any close friends. Everyone already has all their groups and best friends, so it's really hard for me. I still haven't found anyone to fit in with. And now, I'm starting to have self esteem issues. I was already having suicidal thoughts a little before I came to this school, but then they kind of died off. But about a month after being in my new school, the thoughts came back and stayed with me for another good 3 months. Even though these thoughts are gone, my self-esteem isn't as great as it used to be. I cry a lot more often just thinking about my life, and I'm a lot more sensitive than I used to be. I also used to have an eating disorder, where I made myself throw up a few days a week. I barely read anymore, which is something I used to do all the time.
 From this, do you think I'm depressed?

[dropcap]A: [/dropcap]The short answer is yes, your symptoms do sound like depression. I suggest that you seek help immediately. The social isolation and low self-esteem, frequent crying, and your history of suicidal thoughts are serious symptoms that need to be addressed. While I can't diagnose you in this forum, I suggest that you get a thorough mental health evaluation to find out exactly what's going on, and what treatment you need so you can start enjoying your life. Watch the video below for my complete response. Thanks for writing in.Take good care of yourself,Julie Hanks, LCSW