My mom won’t let me get treatment
I got therapy because I was struggling in school. then my therapist started noticing I have depressive symptoms and maybe adhd. MONTHS and finally my mom said ok we can have ONE call with a psychiatrist. My mom is belittling me, providing “explanations” for everything I’m telling the psychiatrist (I tell her I’m crying almost daily, my mom says its probably because when I was 10 I had a carnival fish who died… That was years ago!!!. Or I say that I feel unhappy doing things I like, my mom says that it’s because I don’t try to like it and this is just a huge phase. ALSO my grandma has ADHD but my mom thinks there’s NO CHANCE that I have it and refuses to even look into that.) Anyway the psychiatrist told me about a medication I could take (forgot the name it was like Wellbutrin I think) because it also helps with focus & depressive symptoms.
After the call nothing. My mom says I wont consistently take medication and that I dont need it anyway. I feel like all the therapy and calls from counselor were supposed to culminate and I’d be put on medication and slowly but surely recover. But no and Im incredibly frustrated. Therapy helps kind of but after I leave the office I’m back to feeling sad and empty.
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Help Yourself Now:
It seems like you are going through a really difficult time right now. We appreciate your courage to share your story with us. Be proud of yourself for reaching out for help, first with the therapist and then with us!
- You mentioned that you still feel depressed or frustrated. If those feelings ever become too overwhelming that you feel like you cannot handle it anymore, please seek help. Crisis Textline Text “HOME” to 741741 or National Suicide Hotline DIAL or TEXT 988 – or CHAT at 988lifeline.org.
- Right now, it seems like your mother might be wearing at your character and self-esteem. You stated that she was, “belittling me, providing “explanations” for everything I’m telling the psychiatrist”. As well as, making comments like, “I wont consistently take medication and that I don’t need it anyway”. To help yourself right now, try to do activities that promote self-love and keep you in a positive mindset. You cannot control what your mom says, feels, or does. But you do control yourself. Check out our guided self-talk tool. Find some positive affirmations that you really like; brings a smile to your face or makes your feel empowered. Write them on a posterboard. Put your name in the middle of the board and then decorate it with stickers or pictures that bring you joy. Then, every morning, look at that board and read them out loud, and look at all the pictures on the board that brings you joy. Be the positivity for yourself and for others.
- It can be extremely hard to navigate family dynamics. Check out the LEARN section for good information about family conflict that may help you understand more about relationship building withing the family.
Consider This Next Time:
- Communication seems to be a barrier here between you and your mom, writing things down on a piece of paper to talk about or explain how you are feeling is a good coping skill and could help aid in your conversation with your mom. Writing down how you feel and why you feel that way could give you some closure with this indifference you are having. Also, you have a professional that is there to listen to you. They understand that parents and children may have different perspectives. Or that they may not fully understand one another’s feelings. During your next session you can fill them in. There are other services that also include parent/child therapy if your mother is willing to participate.
- You mentioned feeling depressed once you leave your sessions. Utilizing coping skills in general is a great way to manage your emotions and be able to ground yourself when feeling depressed. You can utilize some of TeenCentrals tabs to help manage these emotions whenever you feel overwhelmed. If you want to learn more about depression click here or check out the depression activity packet.
