depression?

Question

Alrighty well im 14 and i have all the symptoms of teen depression..rebelion,change of eating and sleeping behaviors,detachment,inability to concentreate, the works..and ive been readin this book and theres sum stuff in it abou teen sucide and depression and i have syptoms of teen suicide frm the point of view of an art therepist and my parents are too absorbed in themselves to notice and if i tell them theyll get mad at me but a coulple of people have suggested antidepressants but the only way to get then is thru a prescription hence a doctors appointment hence my parents must know.. so what do i do?

My mom has lately been getting 'irritated with my attitude' and i will admit i can have one but not lately. ive just been depressed and my mother doesnt want to face it shes a docter and so is my sunt and my aunt knowes theres sumthin wrong but we dont see each other enought to help. my dad doeesnt really notice because hes not home much.. the councelor at school is always busy and no matter how many appointments i make i can never get in. i had a
form turned in requesting counceling every other week but ii never get in there still

Answer 1

you have to talk to your parents, or talk to a counselor or teacher at school, they can ease the anxiety of talking with the parental units.

also, all those things you describe are teenage growing pains. you feel all those things because of the fluctuations of the hormones, teenagers are emotional ping-pong balls, up one day, down the next, it's like having bipolar disorder. unless you're seriously thinking of suicide, antidepressants should be the last resort.

i'd talk to a counselor at school or a teacher, hopefully they can put things in prespective for you or help you talk to your parents so that they can find a good therapist that'll help you get through these emotional years. it's hard enough having to be a teenager

Answer 2

The best thing that I can suggest is that even though you don't want your parents to get mad at you, keeping these feelings bottled up inside you will only make you feel worse. I myself have been dealing with depression since I was 16. I'm 28 now. I had to go behind my family and seek help because if I hadn't done that, I may not be here today offer others like yourself advice. If you need to, you can go to a local emergency room and they will see you right away. I'm not too sure on how the health care is were you are but I hope that you have some kind of health coverage. If you get feelings of suicide or self harm, that's an EMERGENCY and get help ASAP. I hope that this helps you. I'm not trying to scare you but I really am concerned and I'm telling you the plain truth from my own experiences. Please don't learn the hard way.

Answer 3

Ive gone thru depression my whole life and I understand the issue with the parents. While they do want the best for you, they don't understand that it's just not an attitude but something really wrong. I told my parents that something was wrong for the first time when i was 11 or so and they pretty much told me to knock it off. Funny thing is my mom has been medicated for depression on and off for the past 10 or 12 years, I only learned this when I went to my mom again this time i was 18, on drugs and there was no way to deny there was something wrong. So maybe you're parents won't listen, but maybe if you just talk to your mom and tell her something like you're concerned about yourself, which you abviously are, and that you've made attempts at remedies on your own, JUst stay away from the drugs please!!!!!, and they are not working and you NEED to go to the doctor be adamant. Use that attitude you've developed to your advantage!! If she won't make the appointment for you make it yourself and let her know that you need to be at the doctors at such and such a time. or you could contact your aunt (mail, email...)expalin it to her and ask for her help dealing with the parents. Keep moving forward. Good Luck

Answer 4

You've already gotten good answers, and I'd like to add a few thoughts. You have already identified your allies: your art therapy teacher, and your aunt. You art teacher could put in a request to the counselor who never has time. It might get priority. You can phone or write to your aunt, you can even send her a copy of your question here and the answers you received, and she might intervene on your behalf.

But first, try this. The next time that your mother complains about your "attitude", you should tell her that YOU are upset and unhappy about it too and that you feel helpless about it. That puts both of you on the same "side", and she may become more agreeable about helping you.

Be openminded about professional suggestions. Don't get your heart set on pills at this point. You may need them. I do. But it's hit or miss, what works for one person may make things worse for another; also, there is a rather long build-up to a therapeutic dose. And anti-depressants are linked in some way to the incidence of teenage suicides, so it's not something you just want to jump into. One of the most boring, least dramatic and most effective ways to relieve depression is taking in fresh air and exercise in a form that you will enjoy. That was my excuse, at age 58, to get myself a dog to walk with lol. Best of luck.

Answer 5

Sounds like my own experiences with depression when I was your age. I think you should tell your mother anyway, and if she gets mad or refuses to listen, phone your Aunt and ask HER to tell your mother -- that should get her attention. If that doesn't work, make the doctor's appointment yourself, tell the Dr. what's going on, and maybe THEY will have to convince your mother that medication is the right thing for you. It's not fair that your mother isn't listening to you, and also I know how frustrating it is to get counsellor appt's at school. Clearly, if you are feeling suicidal and are concerned about depression, then there is a problem, and she needs to accept it. Sometimes it can take a big push, but it's better this technique than a suicide attempt to make her beleive you.

Answer 6

First of all good for you for having a conscious awareness of yourself and seeking help, even though its on here, but its a start. I went through the same thing when I was your age. Sit you parents down and say Hey this is whats happening in my life and I need some help and because you are my parents I am turning to you. (If they get mad say: Hey you are my parents you are supposed to be my 1st and fore most support system) Then continue to mention that you are not feeling "right", then tell them what is different. Incorporate some of what you are reading. Tell them you are genuinely concerned about yourself, and that if there was something wrong you would be the FIRST to know. Good luck, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. (meaning you will get through it in a positive way)

Answer 7

Tell your parents. If you are uncomfortable talking to your mom or dad, then ask them to make a doctors appointment for you to see your pediatrician. You also said your mom is a doctor, so she should definetly understand what you are experiencing. Check out teendepression.org for some help. Also, remember, that you are the only one who knows exactly how you feel. If you are concerned enough to post here, then you know that you are having serious concerns. Only you can communicate your concerns to those who can help you. Talk to your parents, call your physician, send a letter to your school counselor so she understands the urgency of seeing you, and communicate your need for help. The worst lie you can believe is that no one cares, and no one has time for you, and that life isn't worth it. Teens have an incredible amount of stress, and adults get it, we just don't always know how to find those who really need help. Make yourself heard and help the adults in your life to help you.

Answer 8

Get to your family doctor, now.

They can help. A counselor does not have the authority to help you with this. It's nothing to be afraid or ashamed of. I wish I had sought help earlier in my life.

Your parents should hopefully understand that this is a MEDICAL problem, and will be covered by their insurance. Once you do what your doctor tells you to do, and you start getting treatment, your parents will also be wondering why they didn't help you sooner.

Worst case scenario, your parents don't understand what rules and responsibilities are being brought upon you in school and life in general. If you called your doctor, and told them what you told us, they would insist to talk to your parents and have them bring you in as immediately as possible.

Good luck. Be calm and cooperative with your parents. Remember that honey catches more flies than vinegar.

Answer 9

One thing that you should know is that parents don't always remember what they went through themselves. Your mom is probably frustrated that you won't open up to her, and doesn't know what to do about it, thus the attitude. I would make a point of calling the aunt and telling her your concerns. I'll bet she can find a way to make it better. Good luck dear, and remember that life is what you make it, and get some friends who are good listeners.

Answer 10

You must talk to a trusted adult and get help now before you ruin your health and you chance for a good education--when you are depressed it is very hard to concentrate on learning. If you truly can't talk to your parents, talk to another adult in your life (school counselor, teacher, minister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, neighbor, friend's parent, etc.). Also, think about why you are depressed and be ready to share that. Knowing why the depression is there may help in overcoming it.