|
Anxiety disorder
SO if not anxiety disorder, I have depression. What do I do from here and who do I talk to to get help? Is an anxiety disorder normal for my teens or more serious? Has this happened to someone before and done something about it? Please tell me.
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Have you actually been diagnosed with either of the above? You may have symptoms, but don't go putting labels on it yourself. You need to see a psychiatrist to get that done, because you may oversee some things.
I've dealt with symptoms since childhood (I'm now 22) and sought treatment throughout adolescence. Unfortunately, most doctors are hesitant to diagnose a mental health condition in a teenager, because teens may experience symptoms because of their crazy hormones. It might take until your early 20s to get diagnosed properly, but they can help treat you until then.
To get in to see a psychiatrist, you need to talk to your family doctor to get a referral. Tell them that you're experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and that you want to talk to a mental health professional. They'll refer you to another doctor, who will set up an appointment with you.
I would also suggest seeing a counselor, if you have the financial resources (or if your community offers free counselling). Many symptoms can be managed with therapy, especially anxiety symptoms. You learn valuable new coping skills that will help you to live your life, because medication is only a tiny piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting things under control.
Just so you know, anxiety and depression symptoms are extremely common in the teen years. Most of it is temporary, so it'll go away by the time you're 18-20. Other people live with it their whole lives, and are happy and productive.
One more thing; start keeping track of your sleeping patterns, your menstrual cycle and your mood (on a scale from 1-10) in a little notebook or calendar. It will help you to see things that you may have overlooked. For example, I was diagnosed with depression until I kept a calendar, and found out that my occasional elevated moods and lack of sleep meant that I have bipolar disorder. You may notice that you're only depressed around the time of your period, or that you feel better in the summer than the winter (both imply different disorders).
Good luck!
]
From personal experience I would say please get help now.
When i hit 17 i became completely agoraphobic and over taken by panic attacks and depression.
I'm now 26 and i am in a bad way with panic, agoraphobia, social phobia.
I'm not saying this to frighten you, I know my case is extreme but I would give anything to go back and get help when i had the chance.
Your doctor will be able to tell you whether you have anxiety or depression, how bad it is, ect
If it's got to the stage where you made need help with it then you may be refferred to a psychologist (I was when I was 16 but i wasn't ill then), it was just a one off thing though and she was able to tell that I wasn't in need of any help).
If you do need extra help, then this can come in the form of therapy, which is usually once a week, just one to one.
Medication are usually a last resort.
There are natural remedies you can have for anxiety such as Bach rescue remedy and Kalms.
But see your doctor and get their proffecssional opinion first, your only young and it's very common in teens to feel stressed out and anxious, and also to have dark moods so you may be worrying about nothing, but just get it checked out first and then you can start feeling alot better.
]
More Questions: |