Okay, so it all started when I was 12, maybe even 11. I was young, and I didn’t know what was going on. I started feeling sad quite a lot, and I’d rarely go a day without crying over something stupid. Fast forward a few months and I’d discovered self-harm. Soon that was the only thing that was good in my life. Until I met my best friend who stopped speaking to me a few months ago. He helped me I guess, I was happy with him.
But he left because I’m too much of a mess, just like everyone else does. I feel like a darkness is taking over me – it’s affecting my sleep and my concentration and my moods to the point where I’m constantly exhausted and done with everything. I want to go to sleep and I don’t want to wake up. I’m still in school, and I’m seeing a counselor, she is no help. Because I’m so young they won’t consider me having mental health issues, mum and the counselor say it’s just a phase and I need to get out more. I’m exhausted and tired of trying to get help when no one will listen to me. I’m exhausted.
CONSIDER THIS:
- When people ignore your problems it can make you feel frustrated and alone. You are strong for recognizing when you need to reach out for help.
- Plenty of teenagers have mental health issues which shows you definitely aren’t too young to have them yourself. Do research and ask a trusted doctor or other professional questions to gain more knowledge on the subject. If no one will help you, sometimes you need to begin on your own, and ask another adult for help until you what you need.
- Head to the Teen Central website and click the Learn tab then one of the subjects listed there like anxiety, depression or self-injury, for example. Read a few of these or click others to better understand what mental health issues you may have.
- Considering self-harm or possible suicide have horrible consequences and should be taken seriously. On the Teen Central website click the Help tab and call the National Suicide Hotline or other relevant numbers if necessary.
- Some counselors are better than others. You can try to find one that you relate to more and feel heard by. Try asking your mom to change counselors. That will show her that you are not avoiding your depression, but trying to manage it.
- Never give up on your own life. Be yourself and learn to love yourself unconditionally. Sometimes our friends and family don’t have enough self-love themselves so aren’t able to give us the love we need and deserve. Continue to search for real friends who will inspire you to succeed and love you unconditionally.
- You can try repeating positive affirmations to yourself and keep a journal to write down or draw your feelings in.
- You may try finding a more responsible adult to talk to who you can actually learn from and trust.
- Sometimes friends come and go. Don’t let this get you down. You can try making new, better friends and fight back in a healthy way through volunteer work. Some organizations you may like are The Humane Society, American Red Cross or Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
- You can be positive and find other things to focus on like drawing, painting or learn to play a musical instrument. Artistic activities allow a person to take their feelings out in a healthy way.
- It’s vital that your issues be taken more seriously. You know yourself better than anyone else does though. You may benefit from being more responsible since you seem smarter than everyone around you. Some ways to take on responsibility are to get a part-time job, take care of a pet at an animal shelter or get even smarter and focus on school work and extracurricular activities.
- Sometimes life is challenging us to find a higher purpose by throwing obstacles in our way. You can try being more spiritual by trying prayer, yoga or meditation. On the Teen Central website click the Learn tab then Spirituality to get more information.
HELP YOURSELF:
- In what ways could you benefit from being more responsible?
- How could being more positive affect your future down the road (vs. staying negative)?
- Can you imagine the ways spirituality might benefit you in your present circumstances?
