Struggling

[lisanovak]

Hi!

I’m 17 and have been recently struggling everyday.

I can’t tell when all of this started but at first it was just problems with me not sleeping then i had really bad headaches. I started doing badly in school which made me feel even worse, I feelt like shit.Then I had a period when everything was okay. But now it started again and it’s getting worse. I can’t sleep, I can’t do any work for school, I cut off all of my friends, I broke up with my boyfriend, I stopped working out, stopped going to music school....I really need help because I don’t want to tell my parents about this I don’t want to make them feel bad, I want to find a way to start feeling like me again, does anybody know how to get better how to stop being depressed without taking antidepressants?

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Lisa,

Welcome to our supportive community. Well done for taking a brave step out of your comfort zone to reach out for help. Hopefully you will find folks here are only too willing to come alongside you and share from their personal journeys and experiences. You are obviously having a difficult time right now, may I suggest that you speak to a trusted adult, your doctor or school counsellor. It sounds like you really need help and keeping it all to yourself is unhelpful.

Do check out our Pinned Post section for free mental health guides, international crisis support helplines: healthunlocked.com/mental-h...

We are listening and we care. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing?

Best wishes,

MAS Nurse and Moderator

[-Sasha-]

Looking back to when I was a teenager and dealing with my depression, I honestly wish I had told my parents. I know this is harder than it sounds because telling them makes it real and there's always that fear of judgement or rejection, but you never know. I didn't realize until years later that depression, anxiety, and thyroid issues are things that several women, a few men as well, deal with in my family. If I had known that before I wouldn't have felt so ashamed for being depressed when my parents were busting there butts to do everything to make our fam happy. I realized that yes things could be worse, yes many people have it harder than us, but it doesn't mean we aren't entitled to feel how we feel. If you don't feel you can tell your parents yet then for now try and find an outlet, whether it's talking to a counselor, writing, venting on here, whatever it may be just don't let everything stay inside and eat at you. I'm here if you need an ear to listen.

~S~

[lisanovak in reply to -Sasha-]

Thank u so much for your support