Member Since: January 23, 2005
Answers: 2
Last Update: January 23, 2005
Visitors: 877
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I have something mentally wrong with me, and I aknowledge this. I dont know what exactly, but I know I serverly need help. I asked my mom if I could go to therapy, and she's fine with that, but I think I need more than that, like maybe being commited for a while. I cant just say 'Hey mom, I think I need to be committed to the loony bin for a while, is that cool?' She really doesnt see what goes on with me, i usualy just keep to myself while I'm at home. I really think I need more than just therapy, and possibly anti depressants (I havent gone to therapy yet, so I dont know what would go on) I really think it would help for me to go to an institution for a while. How do I approach this though? (link)
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Phew, ok tough subject.
I knew from at least age 14 that there was something wrong with me. I had no idea how to tell my mother until one day i just bit the bullet and said "mom, I think I should see a psychiatrist." Eventually I got an appointment with one and have been going for more than five years. At first I was diagnosed with clinical depression, but none of the meds seemed to work for more than 3 months. About two years ago I got my current diagnosis, Bipolar disorder.
Some things you need to know:
*A therapist can only talk with you; you'll need a psychiatrist if you'll be taking medication (which is not as scary as it sounds and makes a world of difference)
*You need to take responsibility for this yourself. Don't expect to be told what to do. You need to do as much research as possible and take the lead when it comes to therapists/psychiatrists. Tell them if you're doubtful of something, if you disagree, or if something doesn't sound right.
*Always always always be as honest as possible with your therapist. It should be a dialogue, not just someone preaching at you. Tell the truth, don't hide things, and if you're shy push yourself to tell them anyway. Sometimes they can make it easier for you by asking questions from a list (for diagnosis). The more truthful you are, the sooner you'll get an accurate diagnosis, the sooner you'll get help.
*Find some peer support from people with the same diagnosis. I learned so much from a bipolar chat room - success stories, how to deal, what to do about meds and countless other things.
*Research research research. Find books, online articles (about.com is excellent), and read about exactly what's going on.
*Admission to hospital is usually restricted to times when you feel that you're going to hurt yourself or someone else. If you feel this way, go to the hospital and check in. You don't need anyone's permission and they can't send you away. They can even call your mother for you, as well as your therapist.
I'm now 21 and I'm stable for the first time in years. Seeking help was the best thing I could have done. I found the right medication (btw you need to be persistent with medications, the right one is rarely the one you first try) and I'm feeling great. It can be (and already is by the sounds of it) a very rough time, but remember that it will get better eventually. Depression is very treatable, and you can feel 100% normal no matter how severe it is now.
You are not alone!
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I was hanging out with a group of my friends the other day after school. We were just hanging out having a good time and one of my friends pulls out a joint and lights it. She started passing it around our group of friends and everyone took a puff of it but me. I basically just stood there confused. These innocent girls that I had known since I was 6 years old had just lit up a joint and smoked it. I am completely disgusted by drugs and drinking and I will never do it because it's the worst thing you can do to yourself. They started making fun of me that I wouldn't smoke it. I wasn't hurt that they were making fun of me, but I was just hurt at their stupidity for smoking it. I don't know what to do. They've been my friends for a very long time and have always been loyal to me, but this is something I can't handle. What should I do? Should I tell them they should stop? I'm so confused! Please help. (link)
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It's your choice what you put in your body. Apart from them teasing you out loud when you're in a group, I suspect that some of your friends secretly respect you for standing up to peer pressure (something many teens want to do, but give in out of fear).
That being said, I agree with the person who said this is being blown way out of proportion. I also need to address all the people posting answers here using blatant misinformation. Marijuana has never been proved to be lethal. You would have to consume more than 5 pounds of the stuff to get anywhere near a dangerous dose. It hasn't even been conclusively linked to lung cancer. I've done a lot of research on this topic focussing on medical use, and any movies you've seen or information you've heard that condemns marijuana absolutely is propaganda.
These kids are being kids. They're experimenting with all sorts of new things and that's important in deciding what's right, or not right, for them. It's their choice and I think it would be futile to ask them to stop. You take care of you; telling on them will not help them, they'll just want to do it more because they've been told it's bad. Teens (who are not squeky-clean) tend to rebel and telling them not to do something is just what they need to fuel their fire. Bottom line for me is that it's their business what they put into their bodies and your business what you put in yours.
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