How do they differentiate one mental disorder from the other? Are there any tests or its upto the psychiatrist

I've been taking escilatopram oxalate for four weeks now starting with 10 and moving upto 20 mg. Just a brief description of me: I think i've had depression for ever. I was very shy in school a natural left hander but forced to write with the right hand. I'm an indian and i find people very rude here. its so nice to read the supportive comments i read here on the board. People here just don't care or understand what i'm going through. I was very shy with girls at school but very active in sports later i opened up a bit during uni and finally had sex. Though relationships suffered coz i developed an alcohol addiction early in life negligence of parents, yeah i blame them a lot. But somehow i never flunked a test. I don't think i'm very intelligent, although some IQ tests rate me at 140. My father ridicules everything i do and i'm sure he's got some mental disorder too though he's brilliant and can crunch numbers like anything but social skills are zero. I've attempted suicide too.

I've had severe bouts of depression lasting a year sometimes 2 currently jobless after graduation and 6 years of quitting and losing jobs on minor positions. I feel like getting drunk and ending this miserable life. I don't know what disorder i have. This medication is not helping me!

Please don't give up. You need a second medical opinion. And a doctor that will openly talk to you, one that you have chemistry with. Many people that suffer from depression need to switch medication a few times, sometimes many times before they find the correct medication at the right dosage. So, it can be a matter of time and a little perseverance and I know its really hard to be patient and persevrant when you feel so hopeless, but believe me a know my fair share of friends and acquaintances and even family members that struggled iwth depression and not giving up on their treatment has really paid off.
Don't listen to the voices inside you that tell you that you are not smart enough, good enough, handsome enough, etc... That is the VOICE of DEPRESSION, NOT reality. And it will grow quieter as you get better. I promise. I know its hard not to be working and all, but you have things to contribute to society. Just give yourself sometime. Find something to keep busy because depression feeds on iddleness. So read, go for walks, call friends on the phone, take on a hobbie. Just keep busy. And plan your days in advance. Even if you dont get to do half of the things in your list, it helps to have some direction. And find a dream or goal for yourself, no matter how big or small and focus on it. It will help you keep going. If you believe in a higher power, then pray. It will make you feel you are not all alone.
Oh, almost forgot to tell you that alcohol is the worst thing for depression. Makes you further depress and interferes with your medication.

Maybe you just need to talk through all those feelings you've got locked up there. Do you have a close friend or family member you can talk to? If not, or if you'd rather talk to somebody anonymous, look at: www.befrienders.org - it is a list of phone-numbers for every country that can help. And you don't have to be suicidal to call - they're there to help anybody feel better. Good luck!

voices can be a sign of a psychotic disorder called schizophrenia! but does not have to be limited to shizophrenia. you could have major depression with psychotic features.alcohol dependence is common amongst people with such disorders. but do not limit yourself by doing this behavior. it sounds as though you have had a rough childhood. you are an adult now and you need to look toward the future. yes you can learn from the past and learn from their mistakes of your parents. to answere your question on how doctors know the difference between disorders. they have a book called the dms 4. you can get it at your local book store. i bought one cause i work in the field. it may not be a good idea to purchase one because it is easy to self diagnose and that is not healthy. good luck to you and i'm sure you will get better with age. this is from a female perspective. this site is under my husbands name.

Okay, Having a husband that is a little of everything<----which sounds kinda like you, I went to

www.mentalhealth.com

And I looked up all the mental health diseases and looked at all the symptoms of each and everyone. I printed them out and then highlighted all the symptoms that my husband has. I then took these papers into his doctor and handed them to him. There must have been 20 different papers with each having some of the symptoms highlighted. Well his doctor sat him down and asked him about each of these diseases and sypmtoms and how he felt he fit into that catagory. There are some symptoms that only I or the children see in him and he has no clue he is doing what he is doing. Anywho, this helps the doctor get an understanding of what it is like to live with a person this way and he tries to prescribe different meds to see which ones work best. Therapy will also help with your situation. Alcogol worsens the symptoms. So try real hard to get through this rationally and hope you do better soon! And remember, Einstein had manic depression and Schizophrenia!

my psychiatrist gave me written test n he made the diagnosis n put me on medication..but over the years ive had to change medicines many times to find the right kind to suit my illness..though i still have symptoms,i have been thru counseling n rehab to learn how to cope with these symptoms.the psychiatrist can only diagnose n write the prescription,u have to apply urself to get better n learn other ways to cope with ur problem besides turning to alcohol.i suggest u educate urself about ur illness after uve been properly diagnosed.it helps alot to know about ur illness n ways to cope with it...