14 years old and looking for help

[Charlotte_L]

hi, i'm Charlotte, i'm 14 years old and i think i might have depression but i don't really like talking about how i feel but i don't like feeling this way. i cant talk to my parents or anyone really because i just don't know how but its getting worse. i used to be really good at running and i use to run just for fun and i was really active but now i cant be bothered to go outside or do anything. i haven't eaten in a week because i don't have an appetite. i cry everyday for no reason. i just feel like crying all day and its really hard at school because every time a teacher talks to me i start crying but i cant help it. its really embarrassing. i cat sleep and if i do sleep i fall asleep at around 6:00 in the morning then i have to get up at 7:30 for school. and at school i'm not tired or anything like that, i'm just sad. i used to get tried during school and fall asleep but since the start of 2020 i'm just never tired. my body always aches and i feel really heavy. i feel sick a lot of the time and my stomach feels really weird and it makes me want to throw up. sometimes i want to scream and break things but instead i bite myself. i know its bad but i don't know what to do. theres other things as well but i am in class writing this and its nearly bell time. but if you read this thankyou for listening.

[Aaronsis]

Hey Charlotte L

I am so very proud of you, that when you have all these thoughts and feelings going on that you have found yourself here to get some comfort, to share, to get some help and some support. It is not easy to talk about how you are feeling so I am so very proud of you for reaching out here today.

I would like to start by giving you the Kids Helpline number, it is 1800 55 1800, you may know it already but they are so very very wonderful and are so great at talking with young people and helping to give you some advice. It is tricky sometimes to talk to a person but this could be a good starting point for you.

I also want to say that talking with your parents can be less daunting than you think, sometimes even just writing words down and passing it to them can start a conversation, they will do the talking and take the pressure of you to start a conversation. My daughter is 13 and she sometimes sends me a text message if she needs to let me know something or how she is feeling as she too struggles to get the right words out and to start a conversation, it works well.

I think having your parents support would be so wonderful and they can help you with perhaps making an appointment at the doctor. Once again this seems very scary but like you can with your parents, you can pass them a note, even what you have written here and show him/her what you have written and they will start the conversation with you. The sooner you can get some support with this the better as you don't want it to escalate.

It is really hard to be a young person today, there is so much pressure and it is tough, you are not alone Charlotte L and you are not the only one going through these sort of feelings.

We are here for you to chat and to support you as much as you need, please reach out. You said that there are some other things too, if you feel comfortable sharing I would be happy to talk some more to you to help you through this time.

Huge hugs to you Charlotte L

Sarah

[Carolinem]

Hi Charlotte,

You are so brave for sharing to honestly here. I am sorry to hear you feel this way. I went through similar experiences during my teenage years, and understand how it painful it can feel. . Something that helped me was seeing my school counsellor, who advocated for me, and being honest with one of my parents who i trust. Their support, even though I didn't know how to talk about it, made me feel a lot less alone and enabled me to seek professional help, which is so important too. I eventually told my parents too, and if you feel it appropriate, parental support is a great help too. If school counsellors and parents aren't people you would want to talk about it too, in my experience teachers were also helpful. Sleep is so important, and if you aren't sleeping I gently suggest its important to tell someone so you can start to feel better and handle how you're feeling. Teachers will understand, and it isn't embarrassing to cry. There is only so much we can hold in before we need to let it out.

I gently emphasize that however alone you feel, you are never alone and with time and support from people, things can get better. I am now 25 can say this has been my experience and would like to offer you my support if you would like to check back here.

It has been over a month since your post, how have you been since? are you ok?

I hope things have improved for you and if you would like any support, I am here and will listen.