ask dr-robert

Dear Dr. Robert,

I AM WRITTING TO YOU, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW IF MY SISTER MIGHT BE DEPRESSED. MY SISTER IS 18 YEARS OLD, AND RECENTLY SHE WAS FORCED TO GO TO SCHOOL/COLLEGE AND SHE HAD TO STUDY HARD TO PASS HER CLASSES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOW, SHE SEEMS ALWAYS SAD. SHE SAYS SHE FEELS PAIN IN HER STOMACH, THAT SHE CANNOT EXPLAIN. SHE FEELS LIKE FAINTING AND TIRED ALL THE TIME, SHE CANT EVEN GO TO SLEEP. SHE SWEATS ALOT AT NIGHT AND HAS TROUBLE SLEEPING, ARE THOSE SIGNS OF DEPRESSION? I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME.

THANK YOU, Ingrid Morales



dr-robert:

There are two possibilities here, and both need to be checked. The physical symptoms you describe might be signs of an underlying physical illness, and your sister's tiredness, dizziness, and sadness may be other symptoms of this physical problem; for example, she might be anemic. Or, your sister might be depressed, and the physical symptoms could be manifestations of her depression. I think this second possibililty is much more likely.

In any case, your sister needs to be examined by a physician as soon as possible. If he or she cannot find any physical cause for your sister's symptoms, I would suggest that she meet with a qualified psychologist as soon as possible. At her age, depression sometimes leads quickly to suicide before anyone else realizes just how ill the depressed person is, so I do suggest that you act on this right away.



Be well.