marajm34's advice column | marajm34's Advice About Mental health

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Q: Okay I have been on birth control almost 2monthes now. Well I haven't had my period in a month, I didn't take my sugar pills but I don't think that should have an effect on my period NOT coming. I have had no signs of pregnancy an I took a test 3 days before my period was supposed to come which was the 7th? SO I need advice???

You are supposed to use an alternate form of birth control for the 1st 3 month while you body acclimates to the adjustment in hormones. Your period can be abnormal during those 3 months. A pregnancy test is most accurate after your period is missed not before because the hormone that the test detects is not always potent enough until then. Sometimes people on birth control will not have a period at all. You will want to talk to your doctor and take another test. It could be just a response to the BC, but there might be a possibility that you are pregnant.

Q: 15/f/usa/165lbs/5'4
hey. for some reason ive felt lately that i dont "belong" anywhere. Like I do alot of activites, swim team, 4-H, ride horses, play violin, ski. But truth be told, im not like good enough at any of these things. Im good or ok, i do alot of activities but not really super good at any of them. Anyways, I have friends in each of like everything i do, but i always feel left out. At swim team, my friends like ignore me, in 4-H, im left out of what my best friends do together, in orchestra no one talks to me, and i try to bring up convos and such, im rele talkative. And skiing, same thing. I feel like really lonely. And there is only like one person i can tell anything too. But it seems like i dont belong anywhere. And I know i like attention, i was first born, so. I'm starting to think I dont even belong with my family. I guess it doesnt even matter. I have really low-self esteem when i talk about this stuff. And im not exactly happy with myself, im trying to lose weight and look better, i want to be a normal teen, even though there is no such thing as normal. I feel like no one in the world cares about me at times. I feel like an outcast...

I am so sorry, I now what it feels like to not belong. I would hate for you to not continue doing the things you like just because you don't feel like you are good enough. Being a teenager is hard enough as is w/o feeling like an outcast. All I can suggest for you is to enjoy what you are doing, don't try too hard to be involved with the people you are doing them with. Find a shy girl to befriend, she may appreciate being noticed. Maybe you and she have more in common than you know. If your best friends are ignoring you maybe they are mot your best friends. Or maybe they are waiting for you to come talk to them. Don't let your weight be an obstacle. You are a fascinating person with lots of interests. Use that to your advantage.

Q: I'm 19 years old, and have been dealing with depression since I was eight. I don't have insurance or anything, and I know that I need medication for it. So, can anyone tell me how much depression medication will be without insurance?
And how I can get insurance now that I'm at least 18 years of age. thank you.

Hello,
What I am about to write is not exactly an answer to your question, but bear with me...
You write that you have been suffering with depression for many years. I do not doubt that this is something that you know. I am curious as to how you "know" that you need medication?
Many lay people are not aware that medication for depression often does not work the way it is hoped and it can have some very averse side effects. You need a doctor to prescribe these types of medication, most often you need insurance to see a doctor. If you have not seen a doctor, then you might want to look for a clinic in your area. Many clinics offer services on a sliding scale or payment plan.
Because you have had these problems since childhood, I can tell you that you best option would be to search out a counselor. You can try the local university, some employers offer confidential counseling through their corporate offices, or even the mental health services department of your local government.
I hope this helps, good luck.

Q: okay, so the last two years i have become more miserable-between family and friends, but, this year it has reached a new extreme. ive tried cutting and purging, running, boxing, but nothing helps. i just feel this emptiness. Sometimes, life isnt even that bad, but for some reason i feel the need to be sad. i dont have energy or desire to to do the things i used to do, and i just dont care. i suffer from anxiety attacks and im not even sure how to handle them, how do i make them go away? somtimes i just break down and cry, and i just want to go away, i just feel like i dont fit in.

Hi,
I am sorry to hear that you are having a difficult time. Not fitting in can be tough for anyone, especially if you are also suffering from these symptoms. It does sound like you may be suffering from depression. You are not alone, a large majority of the population either has or will experience a depressive episode at sometime in their lives.
Many people don't realize it but close to 80% of those with depression also suffer from some sort of anxiety problem and vice versa. You may want to find someone to talk to; a school counselor, a parent, or even a close friend.
Try and incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine. This won't work right away, but after sometime it will help with your depressive symptoms. As for the anxiety attacks, there are relaxation techniques that may be able to help you. You can do an internet search for relaxation techniques, this will give you a variety of different techniques, see what works best for you.
Good luck!

bio

Everyone needs help sometimes. I am here to help people find answers for life's dilemmas. I can't help everyone, but I will try to point you in the right direction. I am educated in the behavioral science field and have counseling experience.