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How to talk to someone ?
How would I tell my parents that I think I have depression and I need to talk to someone ?
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
I know it's not easy to do this but telling your parents what is happening is the best decision you could ever make for yourself. They know you best and can see what behavior, moods or other things have changed and how the way you feel has shifted over time. There will be no judgment there and you really shouldn't expect that.
Anyone can have depression. It has nothing to do with social class or the family you were raised in. Mental illness isn't fair and can strike anyone at any time. The thing is there are treatments for depression that can make your entire universe a better one. There's no reason to be fearful and you're doing the right thing.
I would tell them straight up how you have been feeling and for how long and that you don't feel it's at all normal the feelings you are having an the duration it's been. Ask them not to ignore this (They won't anyway) and to support you and take you to see a doctor.
Alternatively, you could see a doctor on your own as everything is confidential and have them assess you. In that case you should get a trusted adult to go with you as all of this stuff is overwhelming on your own.
My major concern is how long have the feelings been happening and how often do they change if ever? If you find that it's a cycle where it keeps coming and going from happy to sad to elated back to a total crash than there's a bigger concern there. You might be bipolar. That's a signature sign. If you have racing thoughts, focusing problems and grandiose ideas that's another. There is a type of bipolar that has delusions too.
I've been where you are now. My parents were the one who helped me along with a team with a psychiatrist and family doctor working in concert with me to get better. They're still in place nearly two decades later. That's why I would reach out to your family and work with them and doctors to get you well if you have depression and the least find out one way or another.
Trust how you feel and knowing that it doesn't seem right for you. Telling your parents may on the surface seem difficult but in the end realize you can tell them anything and ask for help and that they will always be there.
There really is no better or easier way than saying "I need to discuss something pretty serious that is scaring me and I need your help to deal with. " Then mention "I have been having depressed thoughts for X amount of time that never seem to go away no matter what. I need to check this out with a doctor could you please help me?" Then give examples and let them do the rest.
If at any time you or they think there may be a crisis and don't know how to proceed without a family doctor you can be seen in the ER and assessed by a psychiatrist who can start treatment.
The only other thing I can say about bipolar disorder to look for is that there has to be several episodes of extreme highs, lows, elation etc for at least 2 weeks straight for it to qualify as that.
Being honest with your parents and asking for support in the way I mentioned above is best. It's a difficult subject but you need to and must know that they'll always help no matter what. It's the best thing you could do as it's the first step towards having your life back and your health in check.
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Gee, I wish you had been my daughter. My oldest told me in her late twenties aftoer getting worse with post partum depression that she had suffered depression since high school but never told me. There were no signs and I took private time each nig with my kids as they grew up to ask about their day, any concerns at all and they knew I was open minded but regardless, she kept it quiet.
As a parent, I wish my daughter had come up to me and said, Mom, I think I have depression, I've had it for (mentions length of time) and I know I may look normal, but inside I feel awful. I'm not imagining a problem where there isn't one. Something is wrong and I want to see a counselor to talk about what I have and get the right treatment. I know if there wasn't anything different about your behaviour so the parents have a clue, it will be as hard at first for the parents to believe. Its seldom a parent is messed up enough in their heads that even if they have no medical insurance or a job, that they would look around and ask to see what services are available for you. So try with the parents and if need be, give them a couple days to recover from shock if that be the case but keep asking and if in a months time they haven't got you set up with an appt to see a professional, then talk to the school nurse or counselors. YOu didn't mention your age so this applies for HS or college age. If on your own, get help and you can tell the parents anytime. No point beating around the bush, just ask them both to sit and hear you out about something very critical going on in your life. Then you say, I am not going to say a lot to make this any easier. Fact is, I believe I have depression and I want to see a professional to get diagnosed and the according proper treatment.
Before contemplating seeing a professional, there are two sorts, one that believes only prescription medicine will help such a person and the others who believe from past clients that the majority of any mental health issues are solvable leaving perhaps 10 % of people who actually require prescription meds. And will try all non med methods of healing ones thinking. Those Drs have training in CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which you can find listed after their names if looking one up.
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