Depressed, but can't get help? I have no self income to see doctor or psychiatrist.?

Question

Im currently a senior in my high school. I used to have straight A's and B's. I used to do all those extra credits for projects, and get overly creative whether its a piece of writing or artwork. But this year, I have failed more than half my school classes. I have skipped classes so many times and was tardy that I might get suspended. don't have any motivation at all to do any of my school work. It is not that I am not interested in the subjects. I procrastinate in almost everything, and it might have just cost me my college acceptence because I did not practice my audition materials enough and screwed up ( i have to wait for letters around april). I keep on getting into arguements with my parents, and now they always yell at me for being lazy. I have broken off so many commitments in activites I just suddenly did not feel like attending anymore. My guidance councellor tells me she has over 70 kids to watch over and cannot help me individually. I am scared I won't even graduate HS.

I have never done any drugs, smoked, or drink alcohol ever. I have broken off many bridges lately with aqquaittences, although I still laugh and act all happy around my friends that I sometimes see after school. When I do tell people who asks me if im okay and I say " I ha vnt been feeling very great, no motivation to do things, I think I'm depressed" no one relaly takes it seriously. That might be because just about everyone always complian about "being depressed at the moment" that my replies are always, " Don't worry so muhc, relax and you'll feel better." I've cried in school and got really emotional in public before so many times. My school is very greedy (we've never even had heat or air conditioning, never even had a day off even when it is a snow storm), and unless someone died they won't do anything to help.

When I skip school, nobody knows about it. I might not have enough school days right now to graduate, and I don't want to tell my parents that but worse yet, find out later. Eveyrtime I skip, I would go to the library and sit there all day and come home later.

Answer 1

Hello. Sounds a lot like me when I was in high school. The tough thing about it is that adults think it's a "phase" or "just being a teenager," blah blah blah. It really sounds like you are hurting and need help. I think you sound like a very mature person and that if you were to sit down with your folks and just let it out... they might take it more seriously. Don't feel ashamed of yourself or of any of the things that have happened as a result of becoming depressed. I know that there is a lot of stigma attached to mental health issues. People tend to be in great denial that mental illness could affect them or their loved-ones. But, the best thing you could possibly do is see a counselor or psychiatrist (or both). Do you parents have health insurance for you?

I went many, many years with untreated depression. Eventually, my life spiraled out of control and I ended up in a hospital. I am NOT suggesting this will happen to you too, but it is a possibility, so it is better to get help now. If your parents still don't take you seriously after you speak to them honestly, then I would look into getting some help through a local mental health clinic. If you are not 18, you may not be able to without parental consent, but that depends on where you live.

As with any depressed person, the main worry is... if you EVER start feeling suicidal... call someone. A hotline, a friend, a family member. If that fails... go to the nearest emergency room!

Take care and I hope you can get the help you need. I really do know how it feels and it's awful. But life can and will get better, trust me.

Answer 2

It does sound as if you have depression. That is very normal for your age. You have a lot on your plate right now.
Don't lose hope. Your guidance councellor should be ashamed of themselves. They are there to help EVERYONE. The teen suicide rate is so high, just because of people like that. I would go to the school nurse then, if there is one, if not, there should be a Mental health clinic in the area that you live. They base these clinics on income level. Yours, not your parents. If there isn't one of those, go to DSHS and explain what is going on. They will give you medical coupons to go and pay for someone to talk to. There is lots of free help to be found. It can be frustrating and you need to stick with it, even if you don't feel like it. There is also the teen crisis line or the regular crisis line. Try to talk to your parents if you can, and tell them that you think you are depressed, not lazy. If you had good grades before, then they should realize that. Unfortunately, not all parents see the big picture sometimes, we get so caught up in our own worlds, that we miss what is really happening in yours some times. It doesn't mean that they don't love you. If worst comes to worst, show them this answer. (If they are reading this, PAY ATTENTION!) If you don't find someone to talk with, it could spiral downward, and that is a hard cycle to break once it starts. Once you find a good clinic, it WILL change. Don't give up....you have a LOT to offer. Until then, find some time for yourself. Do something that makes you happy, reading a good book, going for a walk, exercise. All of those things will help. Good luck.

Answer 3

I suffered from depression in high school, and it wasn't safe for me to tell my parents about it. I don't know what your relationship with your parents is like, but if you think they would try to get you help, please tell them. If you're sure that they would tell you to just get over it and would only make the problem worse, then telling them isn't a good option. Especially if they might stop you from getting treatment. I found help through a local church. They had a lisenced pshychologist on staff who gave me treatment for free. From what I understand, this is a fairly common practice. I don't know how you feel about religion, but it came into my counseling sessions very little. The counselor truly cared and was much more interested in getting me healthy again than converting me to his religion. If you don't think you have the motivation to call around to churches and see if you can find one that will help, then I would suggest confiding in a close friend, trusted adult, or someone else who can help you find a resource for treatment. I wish you the best of luck. I'm 23 now, happily married with a baby on the way! I can't believe how my life turned out after everything I went through as a teenager!

Answer 4

Well first things first... STOP SKIPPING CLASS!!! If you are worried about it than stop. I know how you feel. I went through that and I couldnt talk to my parents. Your school councellor should lose her job. Over 70 students?? Come on thats not alot. There was close to 300 in the class I graduated with. Anyways. You are depressed. Its not a phase and even though you have alot going on right now and it seems that the world is crashing down on you, you need to remember that the sun is going to rise tomorrow whether you ready for it or not. Kinda sounds harsh. I take medication for depression and it can help. Sounds like you need a little boost too. What helped me in school, and this is different for everyone, was knowing that when I got into college I was getting out of the house and most of the situations there. I dont know what kind of relationship you have with your parents but it doesnt seem like a good one if the place you turn for help is strangers on the internet. There are people who love you and can help. What about a grandparent or Aunt?? It sounds good to just say stop procrastinating but we both know that its harder than that. It feels like you have no more umph left right?? I know and these are types of things that dont just work themselves out.. Please get help and dont be ashamed of it...

Answer 5

I went through a very similar situation nearly 40 years ago. I thought I was lazy and depressed. I didn't learn for a long time that I was breathing toxic chemicals from a neaby fertiliser plant which led to fluorosis and eventually really bad allergies. Then I started working with other people that were being affected by chemical exposure, even intolerances to certain foods. Sounds to me like you have environmental or food/drink exposure that is overloading your body and causing you to feel the way you do.

Look around you for any obvious signs of things like excess pesticide exposure or other chemical pollution. Have you had your house sprayed for pests or do the council spray the parks where you walk. What industrial areas are close enough for you to be exposed to toxic chemicals?

Don't just put it down to emotional and mental issues. It could very well be chemical and environmental exposure that is causing you to feel this way. I missed out on getting the best education possible because I felt just like you and didn't know why.

Answer 6

Your guidance counselor is out of line and you should complain to the principal or whoever that she is unwilling to help you.
Her job is not necessarily to 'cure' you, but she should at least direct you to the appropriate agencies out there who can help you.
You are in a serious crisis situation, common to many children who are high achievers, who can no longer function at the level they used to. There are many reasons for this, fear of failure and being overwhelmed the most common.
There are a zillion kids like you out there, and a knowing professional can help you, and there are many free resources out there.
When you search for help, explain your age, your current problems, and financial situation; let them know you are in a crisis, you have no money, and you are desperate for help.
Here are resources you can contact:
1. Local chapter of the National Institute of Mental Health. They can direct you to a good clinic or doctor.
2. Local hospital: if one can't direct you, try another.
3. Your private doctor.
4. Your religious leader who is knowledgable about counseling resources, ethnic community.
5. Jewish Federation of Philanthropies.
6. Another teacher who you respect and trust.

These are just leads. When you call these places, expect a bit of a runaround (except for the 1st option) and your first contact will be a switchboard operator. Just say that you are looking for counseling or psychotherapy help and can they direct you to right department.

Most of all, have a little patience. Do not despair. Your probs are not as unusual as you think and if you don't get into college one year, you still have another and it's no big deal. If you are feeling suicidal, just walk into the local emergency room and let the intake person know.

This shall all pass and when you overcome this roadblock and get some insight you will feel reborn, I promise.

Answer 7

to me it sounds like you have lived your life not really noticing who you are. You've done the everyday things since you were a child and now you have wakened out of your consciousness! You are in a reality check w/ your SELF. You are not sure you are doing the things that you want to do in life and deep down you are realizing this. Deep down you feel as if you have been unconscious of the past, and now you are really realizing who you are. The question you have to ask yourself is " Do you like what you have become?" If the answer is no, then make some changes in your life for you, not your parents. It's your life and I am willing to bet that you have been pressured into things all you life. I could be wrong. If I am, I'm sorry. Really look deep inside yourself and imagine what it is you want out of life. It's good that you are going through this now, because a lot of people do not wake up until they are older. Good luck! Just really get to know yourself and figure out what it is YOU want out of life. Take care!!!

Answer 8

You really need to see some one who is willing to help you. If I were your parent I would be at that school insisting that counselor be fired. I don't care if she has 2000 kids this is her/his job. Such bull crap. You need to talk to your parents so you can get the help you need. Please do it today. This is one time your going to need a helping hand. Don't quit on yourself now! You have to much going for you. Try your principle and let him/her know whats going on. I am sure they will be interested in what the counselor had to say. Tell them you don't want that counselor and you need to speak to some one. I am sure they will help you. You can also go to a out of school therapist. If you have no income they will not charge you much. They have a sliding scale so you only pay whats affordable. Good Luck Kid! Hang in there and keep talking.

Answer 9

You need to talk to your parents and tell them what you're feeling and what is going on. As difficult as it may be, you need to talk to them, and tell them you need to get help. If it is depression, there's a high possiblity that one or both of your parents has suffered or is suffering from depression also, and they may see it in you as well and feel bad that they see it in you as well.

As difficult and painful as it will be (and from what it sounds like it may be long) you need to talk to them. Hopefully they will see that you need to get to a doctor (that's the first step) and you need to get some kind of help. If they don't, do they have some kind of insurance where you wouldn't have to pay up front (I don't understand insurance) and maybe go to the doctor on your own. I'm not telling you to lie or go behind your parent's backs, but if they won't help you, and you can't find anyone else, it may be the only option.

But before you do anything like that, exhaust all other options. Talk to your parents, if you don't want to confront them yourself, talk to a teacher or another adult you trust, go see your school nurse and tell him/her what's gong on and see if they can talk to your parents, try appealing to the school counselor again (make sure she knows that it's serious), there's no reason she should be giving you that response for something serious like this.

But please get help, and it will all get better after that. I know this isn't easy, and I know it doesn't seem like it now, but things will get better soon.

Answer 10

I don't know about the system in your country but i thought that all school going children does have free access to hospital facilities. Ask your guidance counselor to schedule you for appointment to see a trained mental health practitioner or a psychiatrist. You are not lazy but it is an illness that is making you like that. Please see a doctor as soon as possible.