I am 13 years old and I have been diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression and OCD. My psychiatrist thinks I have bipolar disorder, but something has been bothering me. I experience auditory and visual hallucinations, I have delusions and paranoia, I dissociate (I think that’s what you call it), I have weird thoughts and I self harm. Can someone please help me?
CONSIDER THIS:
- Experiencing many illnesses can make you feel confused and worried. You are strong for enduring difficult struggles as a teenager when no one deserves to be tortured by this.
- If you need someone to talk to, you can go to the Teen Central website and click the Help tab to call one of the hotlines. Knowledge is power. You can click the Learn tab then click Depression, Anxiety, Self Injury or others to learn about your issues. You may also speak to a trusted therapist, school counselor or religious leader.
- You can be positive by repeating positive affirmations to yourself on a regular basis. Write down your thoughts and what you’re grateful for in a daily journal. Writing can be useful for helping you piece together your thoughts so you can think more clearly and focus better. Keep yourself from spiralling into a negative state of mind by always having something to look forward to. Head to the Teen Central website and click the Tools tab to download resources to help you called Positive Reminder, Positive Talk or Yoga Pose among others.
- Expressing your feelings through creativity might be a healthy outlet for you. Creative activities include drawing, painting creative writing, sculpture, coloring in a coloring book and playing a musical instrument among many others.
- Spirituality can have the power to help people through the toughest times and even change their lives. It often helps people find meaning in the cruel world. Prayer, meditation and yoga may be used to calm the mind, body and spirit. They can also help you focus better, think more clearly and ease anxiety and depression among other things. You may also attend church services.
- Volunteering can be beneficial to your health, make your life more meaningful and improve the lives of others as well. Find opportunities online or in your area on websites like Volunteermatch. Help the environment, animals, children or others. Taking care of a pet can be therapeutic and save their life as well. Consider fostering or adopting a pet from a pet shelter.
- You can try distracting yourself from your troubles by focusing on something else. This might be reading a favorite book, going for a walk outdoors or finding ways to make yourself laugh.
- You can let your weaknesses make you a stronger person. Try reading inspiring books about people who’ve made something positive out of struggles like poverty, disabilities and others. You can also motivate yourself by reading inspirational quotes.
- Sometimes you have to try different methods in order to improve your issues. You can try changing your lifestyle by eating healthier, exercising regularly and taking care of your mental health. Too much medication can make your issues worse. Some doctors will give you good information while some won’t. Find a healthcare professional you can trust who will answer your questions and treat you like a human being. You can try speaking to different types of doctors and do your own research so you can find a better solution. Empower yourself by becoming better informed about your issues and what you can do to make your life easier.
HELP YOURSELF:
- In what ways can spirituality give you something to believe in and encourage you to think more positively?
- In what ways can having a positive mindset help you now and in the future?
- Can you think of ways you can turn your problems into something positive so your life feels more meaningful?
