about

I'm a 19 yr old mainly agnostic ex philosophy student with rather strong views about a lot of things. I'm very liberal, love the diversity I live in in London and hate that America hasn't separated church from state.
I'm engaged to the love of my life, but agree it is a little bizarre to get engaged at 18.
I'm confident, quite literally crazy, caring and crippled. My manual wheelchair is called Sebastian and he gets scared when he goes too fast, my electric is called Jermaine (after the Flight of the Conchords character) and he really does not like ice.
I can read Braille and I know basic sign language because I believe everyone should be given equal chances. I dislike it that money doesn't have Braille on it.
I'll do my best to help out with your situations, I've been in and seen many a family conflict, I've had my fair share or love life crises, I've had about every illness known to man (could tell you a lot of amusing stories about psychiatric wards) and I'm "The Queen of Hair Dye" so hopefully I'll have some idea about advice. If it looks like I don't give lots of advice, it's because I only advise on things I know about. I also detest poor spelling and grammar so although having dyslexia makes me a bit hypocritical about this.

advice

I'm a girl in my early 20s.

I've suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life, but it really came to a head between 2006 and early 2008. I progressed from getting nervous in class, to being scared to go out, to being terrified of going to the grocery store across the road, to being unable to leave my house or even my room.

I failed out of school twice in this time. I lost contact with all but a small handful of my friends, and nearly lost even my family and my fiance. Fortunately, I was able to get through this alive after being hospitalized for several weeks. I took a year to get used to life and living again, and I'm feeling better than I ever have.

Here's my dilemma: I really want to start communicating with people from my past again. Thing is, most of them have no idea as to what was going on. I've tried talking to a couple of people, but they end up getting freaked out, or acting awkward.

If anybody here has similar experience in trying to rehabilitate socially after a serious battle with mental illness, I'd really appreciate your advice.

I know this is horrible for you but I'm so glad someone else knows what its like!
I would say facebook is probably the way to go, personal messages to the people you want to talk to, because that way its personal but its also giving them space to read what you're actually saying rather than freaking out and getting all confused as people tend to do about mental illness. You could always email them instead if you have their email addresses. I'd let them know what has been happening, but in short, to explain why you lost contact. Ask them what has been going on for them since you last spoke.
I did that with some people recently and its actually great the response I got, I kind of thought they'd be like "oh god its her again, I dont want to reply" but they all replied and were really chatty etc. They're probably missing you as much as you're missing them.
Good luck love, and if you want to chat to someone who's going through it too, that'd be great. xx

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Ok so I recently got accepted to go to Japan (My life long goal) and I got everything I wanted for x-mas and my birthday, pluss more.
I also have a loving family, and great friends, and I must say that even though my life can seem like it sucks sometimes its actually pretty good.

But the thing is, I don't feel happy about it. I feel... Empty. Its really weird like I feel hollow and guilty and this weird weight on my heart.
Its like... Now that I have everything I want, I feel like there is nothing else for me to... I dunno, get or live.
Its such a weird feeling. Especially that sometimes when I lay in bed at night I feel so guilty and empty (especially guilty) that I cant fall asleep or think about anything else.

I always thought I was the only person who felt like this, until I met someone online who felt the exact same as me.
So we are wondering if this is a mental illness that we've never heard of or if its a normal thing, a serious thing or a rare thing that we'll get over?
Please help :/

It sounds like you may have depression, which is a type of mental illness, but is usually not described as such until it is very severe. 1 in 5 people or so are diagnosed with depression at some point in their life, and many people experience it to some extent in their teens due to hormonal and physical changes to brain structure during this stage.

Depression can be controlled by anti depressent medication or talking therapies such as Cognative behavioural therapy and psycotherapy, some can take a long time to pass and some will pass within weeks. I would strongly suggest that if you are having symptoms to the point it disrupts your life, (this could be through not interacting in a way which you would like to with people, sleep difficulties, try google for other symptoms) and if you have any thoughts of self harm or suicide that you go to your doctor and explain your feelings to them. They will decide the best course of action which could be therapies I have spoken about or they may decide just to moniter you, however being able to put a name to why you are feeling like you are may help.

So in short, it isn't unusual to have episodes like this but it doesnt make it any less distressing. Go to your doctor if it has been going on for more than 3 to 4 weeks.

I hope it improves for you, i know how horrible depression is.

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I am a full time student through a community college but since I registered late, it's independent work I do at home. So I'm at home like all the time, my boyfriend works full time (we live together). I can't find a job. My friends and his are all away at school so at night are seriously bored to tears and get very very irritated with each other and frustrated that there's nothing to do. I seriously get so upset that we are such losers...we're only 20 and we live like 70 year olds! The days are just so long and monotonous because I'm stuck at home doing school work (and because I can't drive) and the nights are depressing and boring and awful. The spark is like gone from our relationship, seriously, because we are so pathetic and bored and there's nothing to do together at night. What can I do? I seriously can't go on like this, it's awful...

I've read both the other two answers and I don't honestly think they're any good.
I know what you're going through, due to illness ive spent a lot of time at home with my fiancee and often feel lonely, bored, pissed off with him, and its generally shitty.

If you are working from home, have a specific area of a room you work in, and start and end at desiganted times, so start at 10, have a break at half 11 or something. This'll make it feel less like your home is being invaded by work.

As for the boyfriend, try to do things out of the ordinary. Suprise him even if you don't feel like it, it'll remind you of how it used to be and you should soon be back to how you were. Also try spending a few days away from him, go visit one of your friends, that way you'll appreciate him more when you come home.

Try to meet up with old friends, people you haven't seen in a while, if you want to get out of the house, join an evening class or club of somesort. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to people. This'll mean you get out of the house more and get some social interaction.

I hope that helps, its worked for me! If you want anything else, just drop me a line
Take care!

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I was at the Bodies Museum 2nite. It was one of those museums that were very dark but it had VERY bright lights shining on the exhibits. And I was looking at an exhibit for a pretty long time & when I turned around from the exhibit i couldnt see. Everything went black. It took about one or two minutes for me to get my sight back. I got really scared and I couldnt walk so I sat on the floor. I dont know whats wrong.
I dont wear glasses or contacts. Ive gotten my eyes checked many times and my eyes have been fine. But i seriously seen absolutly nothing for a minute or two.

Anyone have an idea on whats wrong?
Or what I should do?

[btw it was a scary expierience]

All eyes are sensitive to light, eyes adjust to bright light, letting less light in so that your retinas don't get damaged.

Eyes take one or two minutes to adjust back to letting more light in so you can see in the dark, what has happened to you is a perfectly normal thing, it happens to everyone. Your eyes are fine.

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Okay,

I take Lithium and Depoke. (Lithium being an anti-depressant) I often go on and off my medication. I was off my medication for a few months and I just recently started taking them again but the night I took my medication I was fine. However the following morning I woke up in a pool of sweat, dizzy, my heart was racing and I threw up five times. I started to take my medication on a low dose too. Does anyone know why I might have exsperienced these symptoms and why I was so sick?

I would imagine that you just have a virus or something and that is what caused you to be ill and you should be fine again soon as starting medications that you have already been on shouldnt cause this, especially if you're giving your body time to get used to it by using a low dose.

However, if it continues like this for more than a week say, i would go to the doctor because it could be your body reacting against the tablets and you should get different ones.

I hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon!

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Well, for the past year I've been feeling more and more depressed.

I criticise everything I do/say/think - no matter how small - which almost always makes me feel like a horrible person and a failure. Looking back on the things I have done/said/thought (again, no matter how insignificant they might be), I want to smash my head against a wall or somehow erase it all.

Most days, I wake up morning and I just sit there. I feel I have no reason whatsoever to get out of bed. Whats the point when it all means nothing anyway.

My grades are falling. I have no energy, even after sleep, or desire for the things I used to like.

I find it hard to concentrate and everything seems blurry.

Despite this, I try to act normal around other people.

It's getting to the point where I can't take it..

Sometimes I just want to end it all.. The main thing that has stopped me killing myself is my family and friends; I don't want to make them suffer. I know it's selfish and pathetic..

I don't know what to do any more..
I know I have people to talk to about this s**t, but I'm just to damn scared to do it.
They'll just say I'm pathetic and overdramatic..

What can I do?

I've gone on for to long. Sorry for the rant and for wasting your time.. Thanks for reading.

(17, male.)

You seem to me to have a textbook case of clinical depression, well done for coping so well for a year.
Don't be afraid to go to the doctor for help. You're helping yourself to get better.

I think antidepressents would help, but obviously thats not up to me, its up to a doctor to prescribe them. I don't think a doctor, or anyone else for that matter will think you are pathetic, because you can't help feeling like this.

The main thing is that you need to talk to someone. I would suggest going to your doctor, and then telling a member of your family if you are close to them, if not a friend about your troubles. You need what was described to me as a "safety net" someone you can just say "I'm not safe being alone anymore" to who will help by either being with you or taking you to someone who can give you professional help.

I really hope you take my advice and get better soon. I have suffered severe depression and I know how awful it is. It does get better though. Always try to remember that, especially when at your lowest.

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i dont know if i have a chemical imbalance in my brain.. its complicated but is there any way i can get a sample of a zoloft pill or something? to see if itll make me feel better? prob not.. bc youd have to take the pill for a long time to see results, right?

You can't get sample pills because they take a month to have their full effect.
If your doctor prescribes them for you they will moniter you for the first month at least so that is almost like sampling it, so if you find it does nothing you can stop it or try something else.
Anti depressents will only work if you do have the chemical imbalence, some symptoms of this are:
Irritability,
Depression,
Sleep disturbance (too much/ too little/ waking up at 4 and not being able to get back to sleep)
Suicidal/self harming thoughts

I would talk to your doctor about it but if you do have clinical depression, antidepressents probably will help. I have severe depression and have found the meds amazingly effective.
Anything else you want to know, drop me a line, happy to help.
Take care xx

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is it possible to have physical symptoms but not emotional?
because i have all symptoms for physical.
but absolutely N O N E for emotional.
is this depression or something else?

thank you :D

I'd say its probably something else. There are a lot of illnesses and things that have the same physical symptoms, and the main feature of depression is being depressed, hence the name.
However, you can have depression if you feel numb, like detached from enjoying things, but that again is an emotional symptom.
I'd speak to your doctor about it and maybe he can prescribe something for the physical symptoms
Take care xxx

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What antidepressants are approved for teenagers? And i'm talking someone who's 17, not 13. Thanks.

The only antidepressent that is licenced for under 18's (in England where I live) is Prozac. Its a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, it makes more serotonin available in the brain which improves mood.
If you want to know more about it there are many websites, just google it, or if you want more info, I'm on it now so just drop me a question in my inbox.
Take care xxx

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I want to die SO badly but i dont want to leave my friends
ahh i wish there was a way i could stay and leave.. ya know ?

ehh i just want to feel better :-/

ive been to theripsts, nothing helps anymore

anyone got any tips ?

Its so hard feeling like you want it all to end but knowing you cant leave everyone behind. Just remember that you CANT leave your friends, and if nothing has helped you to feel better, you just have to learn to live feeling like that, as horrible as it is.

I have a mental condition that makes me feel teh wrong emotions for things, so i know how you feel and its horrible, but just hang in there, it will get better eventually. If you need to talk send me a message on here or something

Take care xx

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for years i've been seeing these "gray swirls".. esp. when i get out of the shower, but other times too. i cant see anything except these gray swirls. kind of like when your tv isn't working? know what i mean? i get really dizzy when this happens and it lasts a few seconds and i cant see anything. ive gone to doctors and they like im crazy. my regular doctor told me to go to an eye doctor and i did, and they thought i was crazy. i want to look it up on the internet and stuff, but what do i search.. "gray swirls" haha that wont work.. whatever.. im probably just dying or something.

does anyone else have this or know what it is?
thanks.

This is caused by having slightly low... its either blood pressure or something else do do with the way your blood goes around your body.

Its perfectly normal, but a little disconserting. Ive had it ever since i was tiny but you can develop it, but i dont think its anything too abnormal, and i dont see why your doctor didnt know what it was...

I might be wrong but If i am can you tell me so i can head to a doctor too? Hehe!
Take Care

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