Depression & Empathy

My latest episode began about a month ago when I checked myself into a stress center because I had self-diagnosed myself with antisocial personality disorder. I loathed the idea of being a sociopath and knew I needed to talk to trained professionals.

Every trained professional I have spoken with have dismissed the idea that I am a sociopath --- including my current therapist. Everyone has speculated that I am depressed with a lot of anxiety. I am having a hard time believing them. I am in a place where I generally dislike myself and want stay in bed and do nothing all the time.

Does the saying, "You can't help someone else until you help yourself" stand true with depression? I do feel like I've been depressed for a long time (breakup of a relationship/money issues/etc), but i have a hard time believing that depression can be bad enough that I start to question if I feel anything for anyone in my life.

Sounds like depression to me. I've seen discussion somewhere on empathy being of two kinds, one is cognitive and the other is affective. So maybe the flattening effect depression is having on your emotions is affecting affective empathy? Just a thought.

I know my sense of empathy comes and goes at times. I still empathize, but words come hard and I just feel meh. Then when I feel more keenly, I'm so affected by what others write on here.