Unsure and a Little Scared

[rose2002]

So, I was talking to a friend the other day about how to go about dealing with just the general stuff going on in my head. I don't know if I have anxiety, depression, both, or neither, but I'm worried to find out.

Not only am I scared to find out if I do have an illness, but what happens if I don't? What if what I am experiencing is normal and I just can't cope as well as others? I don't know what I'd so if I talked to a doctor and all they told me is that I'm stressed or something.

I don't exactly know why, but I am also scared to tell my parents that I don't think I'm coping. It's not that they'd be angry or anything. I know they are sympathetic enough towards people in my (and my siblings) life who have things like anxiety and depression, but what if it's a different story when they actually have to deal with it? I also feel like maybe they'll just tell me that I'm fine. I haven't felt as bad in the recent few weeks, but it still is always in the back of my mind.

I also have this fear that I've just made up this disorder in my head and that I'm not actually anxious, but rather I've just convinced myself that I am...

I'm just confused and writing this is making me upset. My friend said just to go to my GP because there's no harm in that, but just thinking about that scares me. Also, then I'd have to talk to my mum or dad and I don't think I can do that.

Please help, I really need some advice.

Thanks.

[Betternow]

Hello Rose

I read your post with interest. It is not uncommon to be confused when you feel that you aren't coping with aspects of your life. You said your concerned that you are inventing your distress but if you have taken the time to post your letter on BB, then it is logical your distress is real. Most of us anxiety sufferers have had symptoms similar to as you describe. Nobody can give you a diagnosis by reading your post so I urge you to seek out a sympathetic health professional. There is nothing to be frightened of when being properly counselled by an expert and many people find that unburdening your feelings can make you feel better, before treatment starts.

You don't mention how old you are but you sound young. If you are a teenager living at home, I think telling your parents is a useful first step.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi rose2002,

Welcome to the forums and thank you for being here. I'm glad that you opened up to us about what you're feeling and going through.

I want you to know that even if you don't meet the criteria for an illness, that doesn't mean that what you have isn't real, genuine or worthy of getting some help.

I think that all of us have like a mental health spectrum that kind of goes like this -

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On the lower end would be when people are doing really well, coping really well and aren't impacted by mental health issues, and on the higher end would be when people have mental illnesses and it's extremely impacting their day to day lives.

I think all of us bounce around the spectrum at times and that's totally normal and I think all of us struggle to cope at times and that's normal too.

When you said that maybe you've made it up in your head, part of me thinks 'so what?'. It's still very very real to you - and at the end of the day that's what matters. Regardless of whether you tick boxes for a diagnosis, the treatment/management for anxiety is just the same. You don't have to tick boxes for it to matter, or for you to get some therapy. If the doctors dismiss you, well that's their problem haha

I hope that this gives you some comfort 🙂

RT