Some help please?

Question

I think I may have bipolar or depression. I feel very apathetic and feel like nothing is going anywhere, only getting worse. I also get very dramatic at times, getting overly excited about things sometimes for almost no reason.

I have also started cutting myself, I'm not sure why. I am not in a normal mental state when I do it, I think the physical pain will take away some of the psychological confusion and sadness. I don't feel like wanting to commit suicide, though sometimes I imagine what people would think if I died.

Recently one of my friends has told our school guidance office about my cutting. Nothing has happened yet but I will probably have to meet with them tomorrow. My parents don't know anything about this. How do I get the help I need and get diagnosed without things blowing out of proportion and ending up in the psychiatric ward?

Answer 1

When/if you do meet with the guidance counselor, be honest with him or her. He or she should be able to give you some names of reputable psychotherapists. (These are different from psychiatrists.)
If you're not sure of how your parents would take the fact that you need help, maybe your guidance counselor could talk to them for you.
I was depressed for at least 2 years before I was diagnosed. When I finally was, I happened to be in the office of a doctor who really cares. She asked what was going on, how long I had been like that, and a few more questions, then prescribed antidepressants for me. This was maybe 5 years ago. Last year, I also began seeing a psychotherapist, and believe me, I can tell a big difference. It helps that she is easy for me to talk to.
Sending you a hug.

Answer 2

first of all, STOP cutting yourself please! It really doesn't solve anything, and if you get scars you will regret it and be reminded of your depression for the rest of your life.

Okay, I know this sounds cliche, but I know how you feel. A few years ago I suffered from depression. I was very apathetic towards life, yet the smallest things could make me cry. Just remember that things will get better...though it may not seem like it right now, you have your whole life ahead of you so please just try to pull through this.

I highly reccomend that you get a therapist to talk to. This will only help you, however, if you confess to yourself that you have a problem in the first place. Many teens are dragged into therapy by their parents, and since they don't want to be there and don't want to hear what the doctor has to say, they never get help. You have to be open minded and be willing to share your thoughts and take advice.

As far as medication, I took and have been taking antidepressents for quite some time now. They really help, but make sure that the kind you are perscribed is right for you. Some medications are more suited for adults rather than teenagers, so ask your doctor about the different kinds. If your antidepressent is working right, you should have a clearer mind, and you won't get as you said 'overly excited' about small things.

I really hope everything works out for you! I pulled through a 'bumpy' time in my life and believe that anyone can.

Answer 3

How do you get the help you need and get diagnosed without things blowing out of proportion?

--Cooperate. Go to your appointments.and answer the questions you are asked.
--Tell the whole truth
--Show your willingness to work toward getting better, making the effort to do the homework the Dr. gives you to do.
--Abide by the safety-contracts your Dr has you sign.
--Willingly take/try the medications the Psychiatrist believes will address your symptoms. Continue taking it daily until the Dr. says to stop or change the medication. ( There are no "overnight" solutions. You should begin feeling better in a matter of weeks, and continue toward healing over a matter of months)

Landing in the psych ward can come from - being a danger to yourself or others - out of control behavior, not honoring your safety contract - or to monitor your physical condition concerning drastic medication adjustments, where your health may be compromised.

Thankfully, today there are numerous ways to successfully address these mental health problems. I hope you do.

Answer 4

Being a mental health practitioner with 20+ years experience, now retired, I can tell you that the first thing you need to do is go see a mental health professional to get assessed and diagnosed if appropriate. One of the things I found in all my practice was that oftentimes my clients overlooked aspects of their mental health and therefore misdiagnosed themselves. Also, different variables in your total mental health picture carry different "weights" or levels of signifcance, and therefore you need to be clear minded enough about the situation to be able to apply the varying significance to the individual before you, and "diagnosing" yourself is an almost impossible thing to do accurately. Don't worry, you won't "end up in a psychiatric ward". It's too expensive, and treatment has emphasized outpatient treatment as a priority for decades, so don't sweat it. Just go get a good / professional diagnosis. I'd help you if I could but I'm smart enough to know that Answers is a very poor medium to get the necessary factors in line for an accurate diagnosis. God Bless you.

Answer 5

You definitely need to talk to someone you trust about all of this, whether it be a parent, older sibling, a guidance counseler, or your dr. You need to see a counselor to discuss your feelings.

It is hard being a teenager. All of your hormones are going crazy, you have so many things to deal with. Hormones can make anyone regardless of their age have those types of feelings.

Cutting yourself is very dangerous. You may not intend on ending your life, but it could happen. Not to mention the scars.

Please get help. You are unique and special, and need to talk to someone about your feelings, so you know you are not alone. Any depressing thoughts you are feeling, are only temporary. Life is wonderful, but sometimes can be like a roller coaster!

Good luck to you!

Answer 6

You know i felt and did same thing last year, but i had a reason well me coz i didnt hv love nd yh i lived loneli i never spoke to my family, do u feel bored alot probably u need to go out nd hav fun broo ur in school still yh i am too im 14 yrs old. Get that treatment i dunno wats it called go nd speak to a doctor nd stuff nd dw i dnt think ull end up in psychiatric ward deres alot of worse conditions

Answer 7

There's a reason why you're behaving this way, you should get down to the bottom of it. Is there anything going on in your family, your life...think about that and get some professional help.

Answer 8

Asking for help is the first step.
Getting it is the second.

You need to see a psychiatrist/psychologist that you can relate to, to talk this out.