~ I’m new ~

[Alex_M]

I’ve only decided to join these forums because I realised that my mental health has been rapidly declining, and I thought it was a good idea to hear everyone else’s stories/situations. I’ve been suffering from untreated depression and anxiety for about 3 years, and undiagnosed bipolar for 2 years. This past year my grades have been dropping for no know reason and my friends seem to not like me as much as they used to, I’ve been putting off going to a doctor because I didn’t know how I would explain it to my family but I’ve decided it’s time to face my fears and go to a professional about what’s going on currently.

If anyone has any advice it would really help right now 🙂

[geoff]

Hello Alex, and thanks for posting your thread.

When someone suffers from an MI their friends start to wonder what they can say or do to help them and when nothing seems to work, they withdraw their friendship, and it's happened with me many years ago because they can't answer the concerns you raise.

This can make the situation awkward and can deter you from visiting your doctor, but if you write down on some paper what has been happening over the course of 3 or more years, any triggers that cause the situation to become worse and this can involve your friends, work, uni or whatever else you are struggling with, that will give your doctor a head start.

Can I also ask to click on 'The Facts' and scroll down until you see K-10 test, do it several times, but not straight after the other, different days as well as times, and then take this result with you to the doctors?

Would love to hear back from you.

Geoff.

[blondguy]

Hi Alex

Its always great to have new people on the forums and thankyou for being a part of Beyond Blue

Geoff mentioned the K10 test that you can take on your own and in private

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety-and-depression-checklist-k10

my kind thoughts

Paul

[monsimba]

I can relate to what you said about friends not liking you as much. It's very much the same for me, but in my case is that I don't want them to see the "sad" side of me. So have distanced myself and it's quite a lonely situation.

Thanks for sharing Alex