Hi Lily99,

I'm sorry that you're feeling so much anxiety about seeing a psychiatrist.

Just a quick question to you: Why do you feel that it's necessary to tell your mother about the appointment? Are you paying for it, or is it affecting her pocketbook?

If the appointment is to be covered by her, then your anxiousness about how she may respond makes a little more sense to me. I would recommend being open about you're struggling with ___. You've tried other techniques to work through the issue/s. But it's time for you to see if medication and/or counseling would you help make a significant difference in your world. Keep it brief though. Don't go into specific issues, saying *Jane did this and that, and on and on. That's when it gets messy, imo.

If, however, you are paying for it, then I'd recommend bringing up your anxiety with your doctor. He/she could really help you change your perspective with some counseling. You shouldn't feel obligated to share this information with anyone really. If you're paying to see a psychiatrist or counselor, who to share this information with is entirely up to you and the doctor. You are entitled to feel anxious, ashamed, or whatever about needing to see a psychiatrist. But, realistically, almost everyone on Earth goes through a time or two in their lives when they need professional help working through their lives. Maybe not everyone your age, or in your town, but sooner or later they will receive some type of emotional assistance. And that's because we are all human.

We all struggle from time to time. Some more than others, yes, but everyone is vulnerable to some type of emotional trouble. Sometimes, it's a disease in the brain. No one is to blame in situations like those, but they do occur. Other times, the brain has physically changed and needs medication/s to re-boot it back to normal. Depression is one of those illnesses. And then, there are those who're struggling with the effects of abuse: emotional, physical, and/or sexual.

I hope that this helps you feel a little better about your upcoming appointment. Very best wishes to you!