topic Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Useless in Young people

Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Useless

mbop96 — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 04:33:05 GMT

Im a 17 y.o. male whom is sitting for his HSC this year. I'm a fairly private person, I usually don't vent my emotions and thoughts, I mainly keep them to myself, even when I'm at home. People would usually call me relaxed but serious all the time. I was motivated to sign up and post on this forum today. I read the many stories of helplessness and depression people talk about and I feel exactly the same way. I had tears in my eyes reading these stories, because they all were so relevant to me and expressed many of the emotions I feel on a daily basis. However, I have never been to a doctor or talked to a parent/friend about this. I am a pessimist and have been for most my life.

To cut to the chase, I've been feeling a general melancholy towards

life for over 4 years now. However over the last 3 months or so, the increasing pressure approaching the HSC has caused me to become increasingly anxious leading to feelings of worthlessness and doubt. I wake up in the morning and the first thing I feel is anxiety and worthlessness. I just feel like my life's purpose is going down the sinkhole. I sometimes think that dying would be a better option, but I want to give life a real shot.

I've never had a strong bond with my family, I feel as the older I get, the less I can relate to my family. None of them understand me, my father and mother always asks me if I'm ok and I always reply with the same 'Yep' or 'Mhhmm' and that's where the conversation ends. Regardless I don't share my issues with anyone, not even my siblings, family or friends. I don't speak with my friends about it and hardly go out. I hear the successes of others and look at myself, and think Im a piece of crap because Im so

useless. I can feel the knot in my throat and pain in my heart every day. I constantly ask myself what im going to do in life. I have no motivation for anything, stuck at a roadblock. Im scared of failure, there is a constant voice in my head telling my that I can't do it. I get pretty angry when parents as me questions, or when siblings 'annoy' me when I'm not in the mood.

Sometimes I have really dark days, I feel like I have no purpose in life and feel like a pile of bricks quashes my optimism. I know I am depressed, my plight cannot be expressed in words. I have not visited a GP or any other type of doctor concerning my feelings, but am contemplating whether I should. Even if I did I wouldn't know what to say.

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Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Useless

Struggler — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 13:17:50 GMT

Hi mbop96

It is very common for us not to share our trouble or inner thought with friends and family, especially family. Firstly, we don't want to burden our family or disappoint them. As for friends, we are afraid that they will judge us and call us weak loonies and it does happen.

Please find a GP that you can gel with. Click on resources on top of this page and you'll find many GP contacts who are specialised in mental health. If you worry about what to say to the doc, just print out this post, your post and take it with you to the GP appointment.

Please take this first step. Come back here and we'll give you our support. Please please don't suffer alone anymore. Take care.
Struggler

Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Useless

Neil_1 — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 02:03:12 GMT

Hi there mmmmmbop

(Sorry, I just had to do the Hanson bit – hmmm, you being 17 and all, I’m not sure if you knew of the super group (and I say super group with tongue in cheek) called Hanson from a number of years ago – three brothers and they’re one hit song was, “mmmmbop”) And yes, that’s why I had to share that – perhaps youtube it, but don’t look for too long, you might become addicted 😉 😉

Struggler has provided you with some excellent advice. Suffering alone or in silence is not the way to go. Seeking out a ‘proper GP’, one with a good background for mental health issues is definitely the way to go – and yes, if you’re unsure about what to say – either print your post and take it (and/or) along with it, just try to type up some dot points for how you’re feeling – during each day – when you wake – what things stress you – what things cause you to be anxious?? And take that along as well.

I’ve got a son who’s 16yo and he’s currently in Year 11 and is doing things a bit tough also. We’re there for him and he knows that, but he just cannot open up to us – so you know what, it doesn’t surprise me to here where you keep to yourself and don’t talk much to others. Me thinks it seems to be a trend amongst 16-17yo boys. Nothing wrong with that by the way.

BUT, you can’t battle this on your own – you need to reach out for professional support – so it’s great you’ve made the first step in posting here. The next step will be seek out and make an appointment with a GP.

Am looking forward to hearing back from you.

Kind regards

Neil

Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Useless

vip — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 08:37:02 GMT

Hi mbop96. You have depression that's the answer here. I had all these feelings at 17 yes anxious during after my leaving exams , withdraw from my famil friends, stayed in my room, kept very isolated and im a female so males do hide it more . Ok all you need to do is see a gp and get a referral to a psych to get on top of this all . I had everyone around me all the time are you ok? I know they were just being concerned parents friends ect ect but gee I hated those 3 words and I still get it now as id like to think my depression is under control. Anyway key to this all get help asap . As for those exams I passed and got into university to do early childhood teaching but never carried it through as my depression didn't allow me to. But that's ok I ended getting a fantastic job running a clothing store and being a store manager at 18 earning top dollars just as high as somebody that has been to uni. . At 17 yrs of age your hormones go a bit haywire its all normal and lots and lots of people men and women with depression so nothing to feel shy about. If its that bad write down all these feelings you have on a piece of paper and show the gp this if you find it hard to speak. Goodluck and let me know how you go.

Feeling Depressed, Anxious and Useless

geoff — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 15:28:20 GMT

dear Mbop, I had thought that I had replied to you, never mind, but I do agree with all the wonderful people above have said.

There does become a stage in our life where we have to be honest to ourselves and understand that even though we prefer to keep to ourselves, and I don't mean this to upset you, but we do have to go to the doctor and talk to them, and remember that this conversation is always kept between only the two of you, and he/she is not obliged to tell anyone else as you are approaching 18 years. Geoff.