Hi Oconachar,
Welcome to the family.
I hope things have lifted a bit for you since your introduction.
It is good that you reached out to hotlines, therapists, and now this forum. Reaching out and talking about how we feel is important. I encourage you continue with it.
I know your parents have depression, but have you spoken to them about it? They might be able to pass on some coping strategies that help them, as well as get some support networks in place for you.
At seventeen you want to hit this depression (or protect yourself from it) hard before it settles in and molds your growing brain and kills your personality.
If you haven’t already, definitely talk to your parents so they are aware of it. I would immediately get a diagnosis so we know what we are dealing with. Then get you into seeing a counselor regularly so you have formal supports in place. There are many other things I would do to make sure you have a fighting chance at protecting yourself from depression, whether or not you have it. And this is especially since you are predisposed to it, as there is a genetic component involved.
It is like someone who has both parents overweight. The child would have both environmental and genetic predisposition to also becoming overweight. Obviously, assuming the parents do have a genetic component to obesity, the child would minimize eating garbage foods since they may be fat storers. The parents would thus need to be responsible with what foods they feed their children.
Same with depression. You will need to make sure to eliminate or do less of the things that can trigger depression (e.g. addictive behaviours, poor diet, self-destructive behaviours,) and more of the things that enhance health (exercise, eating nutritious foods, adequate sleep, positive reinforcement, keeping stress down, etc).
The reason I mentioned all this is because I wish I knew this stuff when I was a teenager suicidal and a mess. Nobody told me any of this. I didn’t get the help I needed—doctors wrote me off and parents weren’t plugged-in. So I essentially had to become my own doctor and therapist (and my own guinea pig to see what worked and didn't work
). I also have a genetic predisposition to depression, which makes things more "interesting."
It’s okay, don’t be terrified. You will get through this. Just arm yourself with knowledge, keep and open mind and heart to try new things that can help you, and always keep reaching out. Depression loves it when we isolate ourselves and cut off all contact with others. This can have devastating consequences.
Thank you for sharing your situation. It is important that we all reach out and give each other emotional support, boost each other up, share ideas, strategies, weep with each other and share in the joy.