I really need professional advice....in regards to the safety of my health....maybe a psychologist/doctor???

Question

ok...this is really hard to phrase right without making me sound like a freak....




numerous of times i have posted a similar question but i still havent found what i am looking for...

i am a 17 yr old girl,healthy (as far as i know) and i have a loving family. I am NOT depressed.



I have this 'thing' that whenever i come across a hospital, ambulance,doctor,paramedic ect i get this horrible feeling....



a feeling that i want to 'harm' myself...but the thing is really i dont...



I dont know if you understand what i am trying to say but i reall need some help...



I have never being hospitalized before but if i dont get help i will be soon...hopefully not with your help.



please dont say tell your parents/friends...dont just dont believe me OR take it to heart....that makes the situation even harder...



your help would be GREATLY appreciated....

p.s we dont have school counsellers in Ireland

i wouldnt even know where to find a counseller...

Answer 1

If you need professional help, this is the last place you should look. Anybody has access to this and some people can say some really stupid and hurtful things.

Since you haven't hurt yourself already, you recognize that it's not the right thing to do. Why you want to harm yourself, though, is a job for a professional - you'll probably need to speak to one.

If you're 17, you should have access to a school counselor. Be aware that they may not have to keep things confidential, so you may want to check with them first if you don't want your parents to find out. You might also speak to someone at the school health center. They usually have some medical training (though not a lot) and may be able to give some advice.

Even though you don't want to hear it, you might do to actually tell your parents. It may make things harder temporarily, but they might also get you real professional help that will help make it easier in the long run.

Answer 2

I am a paramedic and your problem is not uncommon.

I do understand what you are saying, but to able to address this issue you are going have to face certain facts and this is going to be hard for you...
You may not have depression (or at least not consciously) but you do have a psychological disorder of some degree at the very least.
The advice that I or others may give you needs to be accepted and considered with an open mind - no conditions on your part such as "please don’t say tell your parents/friends".

Some people feel the way you do when they see doctors or paramedics etc. It's not that actually want to hurt themselves but rather that they see such people as professional carers and the sufferer believes that such people may offer some comfort to ease something that is troubling them (subconsciously or consciously). This is not uncommon. Perhaps your mind is telling you that the only way you can have contact with these people is if you are hurt, or if you hurt yourself. But as you have recognized you don't really want to hurt yourself and this strongly suggests that you really need help and attention for the underlying issue.

This is only a small piece of guidance for you and you will not find a complete and definitive answer on an internet message board. You need to talk to someone one on one to sort this out.
That could be trusted doctor, a counsellor or perhaps even a close friend. You have the self-awareness to recognize the problem - I hope you can follow through and get some help.

Answer 3

First and foremost, I think its great that here you are @ 17 and you realize their is some kind of a problem. That's usually what people much older than you never realize, so that is a plus. You sound like an intelligent person and it also sounds like communicating with your parents is a problem for whatever reason. Do you have a doctor. At the age of 17, you deserve and should expect privacy when you go for well or sick visits. Your physician may be a starting point. Also, are you in high school? Most public schools have a health/counseling services. You could check that out if its an option. You need someone to respect your need for privacy in dealing with this issue, which I totally understand. I'm a mom of two; both have seen wonderful couselors/psychologists for various reasons over the years. I applaud your efforts. Don't give up. Speak to someone/anyone that you trust in some way to get the ball rolling. At 17 yrs old, your at that in btween or gray area as far as informed consent laws, but hang in there. Doctor, teacher, a good friend's mom, your local crisis center (it could be an anonymous phone call to gather info). I have a good feeling your on your way to healing whatever it is that stands in your way.

Answer 4

When you were a child, did you have hospital visits? Maybe something traumatized you when you were younger but can't remember.

Now whenever you walk by, you have this association of getting hurt when going to a hospital, doctor, or nurse.

Maybe one day you should have a friend or two take you to the hospital just to see what your reaction would be if you actually walk into one. Make sure your friends are able and willing to refrain you if you don't cause bodily harm to yourself.

If you do, you'll probably have to go to a specialist to determine if this is a dangerous problem to get treatment.

Answer 5

This has happened to me before well not exactly the same way but the thing is that if you get these feelings when you are in the presence of others who are in pain or dying it's like a feeling where you feel tha you wanna be in their postion. I tend to get these feelings around funerals or tragic accidents surroundings. What goes through my mind is that i wonder how someone would react if it was me on the on the other end? Is that something like you are feeling if so you can email to let me know. However these feeling tend to pass when you leave the cicumastances, correct? I think it's just the feeling of wondering what someone would do if it were you. Don't worry you are find and not crazy it sounds normal and I am pretty sure the most average person has had these thoughts once or twice. You are just fine. (in my opinion)

Answer 6

Well, you don't sound like a freak, given that you can write a perfectly sensible question. But you need to ask yourself some questions to try to track down where this comes from. Did you have a bad experience in or near a hospital when you were younger? Lots of people find the smell of hospitals disturbing, especially if they were in themselves or if they were taken to see a very sick/dying relative; and quite a few people find that if they're near someone when that person is throwing up they have a sympathetic gag reflex that makes them want to be sick themselves.

Also, quite a few people have a strange desire to take silly risks - they know they're not going to do it but the temptation's there. Me, I'm not afraid of heights, but I sometimes am tempted to drop my handbag from the top of a tall building just to see what would happen next ... it's crazy, it's not very strong, but it's there.

Maybe you should try sitting alone with pen and paper, write down a few words like 'hospital, paramedic, etc.' and then just let your mind wander around the subject and see what other words or images come up. You might find a buried memory ... you might not. But you sound pretty normal to me - just a human being with the odd irrational fear, and we all have them.

I hope this helps. Good luck and be happy.

Answer 7

It sounds like an phobia/ obsessive compulsive disorder to me.
What do you do in the event that you do come into contact with these things? Do you do something that "calms" you but doesn't make any sense? Seek out a psychiatrist AND and psychologist.
Both of these Will help you figure this out. Depending on your age (over 17 or 18)you should be able to do this with out your pparentss present. Contact The county mental health clinic in your town.
You arent going crazy and whats wrong with you is treatable. However if left untreated it could get worse and you may "harm" yourself beyond repair. You have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. This is something that can be figured out pretty easy..Just take the first step.
http://health.yahoo.com/enhttp://www.anxietypanic.com/phobiafacts.htmlcy/healthwise/hw169097
Here are a few sites that might help you understand better.

Answer 8

There are two trains of thought here probably presented to you before.

1) OMG! You're such a drama queen! Get over it!

However, if you are seeking attention, you would have done it already. You wouldn't be asking for help. I think that parts of you DO want attention, but not the majority of it.

2) Get your friends and family to help you! Hugs!!

However, I think that it's hard to convince your loved ones that you DO have a problem, especially at 17. Every teen seems to go through the suicide phase. It's usually not until a teen almost or does die that the family thinks, "wow. I should have done something."

Instead, you are stating that you need help but you don't know where to turn. Start with your school counselor, or if you're not ready to go there, try calling suicide or self-harm phone numbers. It's confidential and it's just you and trained professional. I'll get those numbers for you soon.

Also, eventually you NEED to a see a professional. Because you are 17, you need to alert your family that you need to see someone who is trained to deal with this. They may not believe you, but you need to at least tell them what you are doing. I have no idea how insurence will handle that.

1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2433
http://www.selfinjury.org/indexnet.html

Answer 9

First of all forget what the very very friendly person wrote to you a few seconds ago , that person has probably never had a personal problem before !!!! Unfortunately i am almost sure you would have to look for professional help. I don't know if you will be comfortable talking to your general family doc. soo that he can pass you on to someone who can really help you. I am speaking from experience, don't be ashamed or sickened by yourself. there are many girls going through very very similar situations. What is important is that you must realize that you are not alone,,,,,very important.. Act now it will shorten your suffering in the future a bit.. look after yourself

Answer 10

And how would you suggest we help you?....You are not in need of an answer....you are in need of an intervention. You need to take control of this situation and not let this situation take control of you. Find a good phycologist to talk with....Do something.

PS. YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN THINKING....YOU SAY YOU ARE FROM IRELAND...AND I REALLY KNOW LITTLE OF YOUR COUNTRY...THE ONLY THING IS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FIGHTING IN IRELAND BETWEEN TWO RELIGIOUS SECTARS OVER THERE...IT COULD BE POSSIBLE, WHEN YOU SEE HOPITALS, DOCTORS, AMBULANCES, ETC....YOUR BRAIN IS PROGRAMED TO KNOW PAIN AND SUFFERING GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THESE....MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN PHYCOLOGICALLY TRAUMATIZED BY THE FEUDING....AND WHEN YOU CROSS PATHS WITH THESE THINGS, YOUR MIND CAN'T PROCESS ALL THE INFORMATION IT IS RECEIVING AT THAT VERY SECOND (YOUR MIND HAS MEMORY RATHER YOU WANT IT TO OR NOT....SUCH AS WHEN YOU SMELL CERTAIN FOODS IT BRINGS UP CERTAIN MEMORIES OF EVENTS IN THE PAST)....SO MAYBE THAT IS HOW IT IS WHEN YOU COME ACROSS HOSPITALS, AMBULANCES, ETC...I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING, BUT MAYBE YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR BRAIN REPROGRAMED WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE EVENTS....ONCE AGAIN....YOU REALLY NEED TO SEEK OUT THE HELP OF A PHYCOLOGIST/DOCTOR. GOOD LUCK.