Rate Your Depression
I think one of the hardest things about depression for me is that it’s all self reporting. When I go to my psychiatrist, she has me “rate” my depression on a scale from 1 to 10. I freaking hate that. I don’t know—am I a 6? A 7? What’s the dang difference?
I'm going through a med change right now and I’m constantly like, “Am I more depressed? Less? Am I just thinking about it too much?” My fear is that I will not self report accurately, and then there will be a med change because of it. And then I will just be worse off.
I wish they could just do a blood draw and see if you’re depressed and how much.
@mich765
"I wish they could just do a blood draw and see if you’re depressed and how much."
that would be really helpful fr..how we believe we are down with fever when we can see our temperature or know we are physically sick when there's tests and reports .... something to believe more into I guess because yeah believing in yourself? what's that? 😅
I totally feel you. I hate those forms. You might ask your psychiatrist about them though. Tell them why they make you so nervous. That way they can evaluate what you put down properly. @mich765
@bestVase7265 that’s a good plan. I’m always afraid I won’t answer correctly and then we’ll make a med change based off of that. Like, maybe I’m not more depressed but just having a bad week. But I say I feel more depressed and BAM…med change. It’s a tricky thing for sure.
Yes, but the doctor is pretty used to that. I think that they really look at answers over time. It is just one of many tools that they are using. They rarely make medication changes unless you say you aren't doing well in person and then explain an increase in symptoms longer than a week or no decrease in symptoms after a month or more of a new regimen.
I finally got myself stable on some medication and now my appointments are fewer and I no longer have to answer that form. I bet that you will reach that point as well. @mich765