Do i need help?

[Candy91]

Hello everyone.

I am 23, female.
I have never gone to a professional to say something is wrong or to ask if something is wrong with me.
I talk to a friend and he tells me I need to talk to someone and seek help.
But I cant seem to take that step. Part of me doesn't want to go tell a doctor or someone else.
I don't want to ask for help.
I don't want something to be wrong.

I have time lately where I feel I need help and want to call out for it.
But then.
I doubt myself the next moment. Do I need any help at all?
I feel part of me is just making it all up or i'm making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Even more so today when a close friend told me she has a tumor in her neck.
I just feel like my issues arnt important.

I have anxiety. and a few panic attacks.
I get stressed out a lot.
I get super frustrated at people and things if they don't go the way I want, with super simple things.
I feel a bit up and down.
I don't feel like im in a dark depression where I cant get out of bed. but im not happy.
but then I can have moments where im suddenly excited like tomorrow is Christmas. where I smile and nearly laugh and im not sure why.
My life is on the up. But im not happy, I feel like im getting more anxiety.
I cant sleep at night with out the tv on, and get worked up at the smallest sounds.
and other issues and feelings.


I don't no what to do next.
Are my issues nothing?

If not, what are the first words you say?
How do you ask for help?
Is there a easy way?
I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

[Beltane]

I felt exactly this way for 8 years. 8 years! It took 8 years of all my family and friends be going me to get help before I finally did!

i was the same- I had ups and downs. Days where the panic, anxiety and depression were huge huge huge, and I'd think "ok I need help". Then I'd have a day where I felt a bit better and I'd think "no I was just tired, I'm fine." 

i didn't want to have a mental illness- it was too big and scary. Mental illnesses were for crazy people, not me! And besides, I told myself I was being weak and silly, there were people worse off than me so I should consider myself lucky and get over it!,

In reality a mental illness is as real and as awful as any physical illness. They can cause huge amounts of suffering. By their very nature, they twist our thoughts; we're not crazy but they can make us think awful things about ourselves sometimes.

so ask yourself this: if it was your best friend in the whole world who was feeling this way, what would you say to her? What would you think? Would you tell her that she deserves to feel happy, calm and well just like everyone else? Would you tell her to get some help so she can feel better again? Think of what you'd say to her, and say it to yourself. 

What to do now. Go to your doctor. At the top of this page there is a tab called "The Facts", under that is I fo about depression and anxiety, and some short quizzes you can do where you rate how you feel. Print out the results and take them to your doctor- this will help you find the right words to say.

dont worry, they are very kind and helpful. They will ask you questions about how you feel.  They'll write up a plan of what you can do to get better. This often means you get a referral to see a counsellor- you get 10 sessions paid for by Medicare. If you don't like your counsellor, you  can be a new one at any time.

the plan sometimes includes other things too- lifestyle changes like sleep, exercise, healthy eating, hobbies... The doctor might suggest a medication. Try to keep an open mind- you might think meds are bad or "weak" but in reality they are a very effective treatment for many many people, and make them feel normal again. 

As I said, I wish I had gotten help earlier, as my life now is wonderful. My medication and my therapist are both really helpful, and I've completely recovered. I am happy, stable, calm, and able to cope with even the most stressful things without panicking or becoming depressed. I feel wonderful- so can you. 

[Candy91]

Thanks.

Everything you said is pretty much how I feel.
It sucks that it seems so hard for people to take that step to get help.

I don't want to wait 8 years.

Thanks for your advise.

I know what I need to do, what I should do, what I want to do. and how to do it all.
But I still have this big brick wall in front of me.

I wish I could just go to someone, and they could read my mind and see all my problems so I didn't have to explain any of it.

[Steven1]

Hi Candy. I know how you feel. It is very hard to make that first step and talk to someone professionally! Do you have a regular doctor or GP that you can talk to?

I have had the ups and downs that you referred to for a long time. Luckily I have a very warm and approachable GP who I feel comfortable with. I went and visited her and she didn't make me feel stupid or embarrassed and she didn't label me. She started me on an antidepressant and was very supportive.

Doubting your problems and wondering whether they really exist is normal and I can relate to that. Even now I keep asking myself do I really need these tablets. But deep down I know I do... hopefully you can take that first step. Good luck!

[Beltane]

*hugs*. its going to be ok 🙂 it will be. you don't have to do everything all tat once. little baby steps at a time. don't try to think 10 steps ahead- just break it down to tiny little steps and only think about the next one you need to take...

maybe your first little step could be just to look up under "The Facts" and do the self quizzes, or read up about the different treatments available...

or maybe your first step is to tell your male friend you mentioned that you have decided to get some help. maybe his support will be very helpful to you!

one step at a time 🙂