Posted by JohnL on May 4, 2000, at 2:56:59
In reply to Does Not Depressed = Happy?, posted by shar on May 3, 2000, at 21:12:15
Shar,
In the psychiatric community as a whole you would be considered a success. That's because they usually measure success as a 50% reduction of symtoms. Not always, but usually. It sounds like you have at least achieved that much. Sometimes the criteria is more stringent, like a score of 10 or less on the Hamilton scale, or something similar. I suspect you have not achieved that kind of success.In my experience being undepressed is not equal to happy. Most antidepressants have lifted me out of depression, yet still left me with residual symptoms of anhedonia that clearly prevented me from enjoying a normal life. I was undepressed, but not happy either. As my counselor accurately phrased it, I was at a level of functioning, but not a level of enjoying everyday normal activities.
It might be interesting for you to follow Dr Bob's link to a site called Depression Central. Just click on 'Tips' at the top of the main page to get to the page where you can access the links. After you get to Depression Central, there is an online depression screening test you can take to determine your current level of depression. It's a simple multiple choice question and answer thing and will give you the results as soon as you're done. I am just guessing, but from the sound of your post I would venture a guess you currently fall into the category of mild or moderate depression.
JohnL
poster:JohnL
thread:32150
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/32212.html