THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND ME

I am 17 and have a serious problem. I think that I have depression and I am 100 per cent sure that I suffer from anxiety, as I have panic attacks. I was depressed about two years ago and also when I was seven years old. I feel so alone, cry every night and feel bad about myself, but neither my parents nor my friends understand me. I did start to cut myself. I have stopped now, but feel like starting again. I am so afraid of going to a psychologist. Please help. I feel so alone and helpless. It is so sad that you feel lonely and depressed, and I want to help you. The most important thing is for you to be able to confide in someone as you need more help and support. It is hard when you feel that the people around you don’t understand how you are feeling. If you possibly can, please explain again to your parents how awful you feel and how serious it is. You also need help outside the family. I promise you – you don’t need to be afraid of seeing a psychologist or counsellor. There is no shame in feeling this way and they would be kind and caring. They want to help you. You may also need antidepressants. Sometimes, a combination of these drugs and therapy works best. Please see your GP for a referral and medication. You can also find a counsellor through Relate (relate.org.uk, 03001 001234), which has a young people’s service. Having someone who is there for you could make all the difference. It could also help with your struggle to stop self-harming. People tend to inflict pain on themselves because it distracts them briefly from the emotional pain and turmoil within, but it is only temporary and not the answer, so please don’t hurt yourself. I hope that you will seek the help you need as I am worried about you.