I've not actually been diagnosed with depression yet but am convinced that it is my problem. I have almost every typical symptom and just generally feel awful, miserable and generally empty. I have done for weeks now, and when I look back over the holiday even I wasn't even feeling great then.

It's got to the point where it's an effort to do anything as I can't concentrate, pretty much can't think. I often feel completely disconnected from the world and am acually struggling to care about any of the work I have to do. This is not like me at all. I've always been the academic sort - knowledge for the sake of knowledge, that sort of thing. I even thought about a career in academia at one point. Now I am barely on top of it, despite the fact that, to be honest, the level of the work is not that difficult, even if the quantity is a bit much. I should be fine and I'm not. I wonder if I've just burnt out after years of working hard. I mean, I never felt so stressed and panicky than after my exams last year, and they weren't even that important (1st year of uni didn't count towards my degree).

Now, I don't know what to do. I've talked to my academic tutor, who was sweet but a bit ineffectual. I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I'm hoping they can help. Am I dealing with this ok? Any advice? Ideas for how on earth I can deal with the mountain of work that seems to have triggered these feelings (again...)? My department are nice but just, well, true academics, in the sense that their grasp on the everyday and people's problems is a little tenuous because all they can think about is their subject! Advice,anyone?

Thanks. x