Is this actually depression, or is this just one of life's natural down phases?

[calmbaseball837]

I don't just mope around saying "poor me poor me" all day, and I do try to take responsibility for what I do. But lately I've really been feeling like a failure and a loser. I've started feeling just kind of dead, like I don't really take pleasure in much, and my happy feelings are usually just temporary highs. I've gotten addicted to taking surveys and then using the free survey money to buy movies and music like they're drugs. And I feel worthless and like the future is dreary, even though my parents say I've got hope and good things going for me, but I feel like I don't even though I try and work hard and all. I also feel more irritable, and I feel like I'm constantly worth nothing. Sometimes I get so angry and down at myself and stressed that I secretly will cuss myself out and start gripping my throat till I start to gag and tremble.

Also, I feel like since my college friends have or will have good jobs, and since I don't have a good job and can't live outside of my parents' house, I'm falling behind and alone. And they're busy, so we can't really talk much except a teeny little bit on Facebook. I've never dated any girls, and even though I try to be self-confident, kind, and fair, I still never got into dating anyone, and no girls got into wanting me, and so when I see so many of the people I know with relationships and marriages, I feel even worse about myself and think I never will be happy or have even a chance of maybe getting a special someone.
I guess it didn't help that I got a history college degree, and even though I tried hard to be positive and put my name out there, I got rejected by grad schools and failed to get hired for any good jobs. And I constantly am beating myself up for getting a history degree even though I absolutely love history and I don't know what else I could do for the rest of my life, but if I can never do history, then I don't know what else I could honestly do cause I feel history and all that is all I know.
I feel like I can't really make decisions without lots of flip-flopping and hemming and hawing, cause I'm scared I'm going to make things worse for myself. And sometimes I have trouble reading cause I'll constantly zone out or get distracted.

I REALLY do want to make my life better and I'll work really hard at it, but I feel like everything I love to do is worthless and will never get me anywhere, and I feel like I'll just screw up my life more and leave me on a bare-bones ramen noodles diet
I don't feel entitled or owed anything, but I just honestly am feeling all these things right now. And people around me say I'm a hard worker and smart and all, and so I should feel blessed. But I don't, instead I feel like I'm worthless and that sometimes, I'm just a waste of these skills and a disgrace to my family.
and please, I don't want to fish for pity or sympathy or whatnot. but I just really, really feel the need to ask this.

[Oak]

You could be going threw one of those things that happen to every one but if it does not get better with in a couple of weeks it's most likely depression and you should talk about it

[Terri; Cloud]

See someone.. See if that helps
Goodluck

[Jan C]

I suggest you start getting out of the house and stat exercising. If you have depression these two things work well. You still may need to see the Doctor about your feelings. Find some other fun things to do or call up an old friend.