i've been in inpatient treatment facilities since I was 12 and am now 18. I just got released from the last treatment facility on June 26th & am now free.
When I was 12, my parents started worrying about me because I became "antisocial", difficult to deal with, moody, bored with life, doing terribly in school, and had emotional outbursts. I was placed in a psychiatric hospital for four months and when I came out I was sent away to a boarding school in Utah for "troubled kids". Two years later I was transfered to another treatment boarding school in Utah and stayed there until now. I honestly no longer have emotions. the medication and isolation from family and friends has just made me numb. Now im thinking, was it really worth of my parents to spend all that money on this? I feel no better or worse.I personally am against medicating and hospitalizing kids and teens. I believe people diagnose kids with mental illnesses way too often these days. What do you think?
and what should i do?
2006-08-25 20:02:00 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
Well I never knew anything was ever wrong with me. I was just a quiet, shy 12 year old girl. Yes so I did poorly in school and did get quite emotional at times but do not believe that anything was extrememly out of ordinary.
Yes i have suffered from "manic depression" and ADD, but i believe that ADD is way too overdiagnosed. psychiatrists today dont care about patients. they dont really try to help, they just prescribe medication and forget about them. I highly doubt that sooo many kids today have "ADD" and other mental illnesses. It just doesn't seem realistic.
2006-08-25 20:15:32 · update #1
I think you are quite right. In America health care is not a human right like it is in most industrialized countries, health care is a big cash cow designed so that large corporations can get rich on other people's misfortune.
Too often a child with behavioral problems is 'diagnosed' with something they don't really have. My wife is a therapist and sees children every day who have been diagnosed with some kind of mental health issue, which in reality is far less serious or severe than their diagnosis.
Parents seem too quick to stick their child on medication and sometimes if they have the money put them in a residential facility to 'cure' them. The medical community is just dying to get their hands on plenty of this cash will be more than happy to recommend all kinds of 'treatment' just so they can get rich.
It's pretty sad what happened to you. Sad for you and sad for the country, because your story is far from unique, this kind of crap happens all the time.
As far as what you need to do, there is little advice I or anyone else can give. No one but you can change who you are. You have all kinds of interesting and exciting life ahead of you. You are so young and there are so many wonders out there for you to explore. Things may never be especially easy or pleasant for you. Sadly you have a disability, just like someone in a wheelchair. Your mind occasionally likes to throw you through a loop. You can choose to accept that and try to press on regardless or you can allow yourself to wallow in self pity and numb the pain with drugs, alcohol, and other inadvisable activities.
I really hope you can do whatever is necessary to start feeling good about yourself. Maybe you can get into college and/or find a career path that you enjoy. Maybe you will meet that special person and fall in love. Or maybe you life will always suck. But despite all the bad cards that have been dealt your way, you don't always need the best hand to win the game. Good luck.
2006-08-25 20:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by ZCT 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe you cna find passion or meaning in life by becoming a child psychologoist, social worker or special education teacher or even maybe a pediatrician and helping many many kids in a similar situation like yours so that their parents get more support and dont have to ship them away to save their lives. You seem smart. And I bet you are a good fighter against injustice so you could do a good job.
2006-08-25 20:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by TrueSoul 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
May be your parents thought your behavior was too difficult to deal with and just sent you away. I hope you recieved counseling will you were in these facilities because medication alone may not solve the problems your family thought you had.
2006-08-25 20:09:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you've been through the worst of it. Life can only get better from here kid. Shame on your parents!! But, Don't carry it with you. You can overcome having a "not so bright" family.[ I'm trying to be kind]... Many of us have overcome worse. Live your life and put this crap behind you!!! Good Luck!!
2006-08-25 20:10:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about the rest but maybe find something you enjoy like dancing or sport, something that get you mixing around people again.
I guess your parents were doing what they thought was right at the time
2006-08-25 20:14:00 · answer #5 · answered by MJane21 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you still need help. Stay in treatment. See a counselor. Take your medication.
2006-08-25 20:11:09 · answer #6 · answered by nolongeravailableatY!Answers 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't dwell on it, get out there and make your own decisions now, take control of your life it is what you make of it! Be somebody, not just a body!
2006-08-25 20:09:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I guess if you don't feel any better then it wasn't worth it, but they were trying to help you I suppose.
2006-08-25 20:11:21 · answer #8 · answered by First Lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the trouble kid you were sound like a normal teen age lass to me.
2006-08-25 20:08:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
well if u think it was wrong of ur parents thats emotion u liar
2006-08-25 20:08:41 · answer #10 · answered by michael 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋