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Jun 11, 2012, 03:24 PM
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Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 6,543
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Sweetie, I've had mental health issues since I was a child. My parents didn't care -- they were too busy getting drunk. I had no one to talk to, so I just suffered thru it.
When I was in my twenties, I went to a therapist who diagnosed me. She was extremely GOOD -- but she even saw how serious my issues were, so she wanted me to be put on medication, and since she was a psychologist, she sent me to my medical doctor who put me on meds. It did NOT "change who I was." I was STILL the same ME. It just evened things out for me, so that I COULD be me, and not the manic, scared person that I had been. I continued with therapy, but at one time I decided I needed to go into the hospital, so I willingly committed myself to the mental ward. I spent 2 weeks there, and it was the BEST thing I could have done for myself. I had one-on-one meetings with my psychiatrist along with group sessions.
I'm in my 60's now, and I'm STILL on medications and will be for the rest of my life. Mental illness doesn't go away - it rarely gets "cured." But you could say that I'm in 'remission' as I haven't had to have therapy in a long time now.  As long as I stay on my meds, I'm ok but I have to see my doctor once a month.
PLEASE - don't be afraid of treatment! If you have a TRUSTED therapist, then talking to him/her isn't difficult. It IS confidential, and no one is told of what you say!!! It is between YOU and the therapist. Even your Mother isn't told. And like I said, the medication doesn't change WHO you are -- it just allows you to better function.
Don't stop at a diagnosis -- what's the point of getting it if you're not going to DO something about it?  Please honey, take the step to better mental health! You won't regret it, and it means a FUTURE for you. Right now, your future is in limbo if you don't get treatment. 
I wish you the best. God bless. Hugs, Lee
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