I am not sure..

Lately, I been feeling guilty. Also, I have been wondering if there is an issue. Multiple people have told me that I need to be taking things like mood stabilizers, that my moods are NOT a normal teen thing, that it sounds like I have full blown Bipolar with rapid cycling, and that I really need to get help. But I am SO nervous about the whole idea of telling my parents. In a couple of weeks it will have been 2 months since my moods have been getting more severe, with that said plus what other people are saying, I been more and more positive that there is something wrong. But I can't even imagine what my parents would say if I were to tell them, I just can't get myself to tell them. But lately, it has been hanging over my head, I know it's the right thing to do. It is causing me such anxiety and guilt, but I just can't get myself to do it, I keep telling myself that I just need to observe my moods a little while longer to make sure if it really is something. But is that really the right thing to do?

What are you worried your parents reaction will be? Do you think they won't accept it or you?

I'm not sure how old you are but can you find a doctor on your own to see to get a diagnosis before you talk to your parents?

I think that I don't know how old you are. I do not know what is your situation with access to medical care. Maybe I have not read your prior posts carefully enough. Can you visit a doctor on your own? I can tell you that my children's medical records are now, now that they are 12 and 14, hidden from me - I do not have electronic access to them. Until age 12, parents have electronic access. Later on, they do not. Is it just California? It probably does vary by state.

Do you have your own cell phone? Can you make an appointment to see your family physician giving your own cell phone number in case they call you with a courtesy reminder? I imagine that the parents will learn about the appointment when they see the bill, but they will not learn the nature of the issue you discussed with the doctor.

It is very tough, being a kid in your shoes. But what I can tell you for sure is that there is absolutely nothing for you to feel guilty about. It is just a challenging situation. You do not owe anything to anyone at all; you just owe it to yourself to take care of your physical and mental health.

Since you are introspective and analytical, I would recommend that you start monitoring your moods (Optimism Online and Moodtracker.com are good tools for that). When you finally make an appointment to see a doctor, the doctor will be duly impressed, too, when you show a printout of your mood chart.

I am 13 years old, do not have a cell phone (but have an iPod that I can communicate on), and could not make an appointment on my own. I would tell my guidance counselor about it, but even though she says it would be confidential, I don't trust her enough, I feel like she would contact them because of the topic of the issue. And I am not worried about them accepting me or anything, I just don't want them to be in my face making a big deal about it, constantly asking me questions about it.
P.S. they try to avoid taking medication as much as possible, so they would not be happy about that.

I see. Well, the guidance counselor cannot make an appointment for you either, so even if she keeps her confidentiality telling her would not produce results. Can you tell your parents that you are worried about something that warrants a doctor's appointment, but it is not a big deal and you definitely do not want them talking to you about it all the time?

I feel like I am being difficult. But that would not work, they would make me tell them before they would make any kind of appointment.

Only a Pdoc can diagnosis you.. You may be bipolar or you may be suffering from a basket full of other disorders mental or physically. Of course you should also see your regular medical doctor to see if there could me a medical reason for your symptoms. Maybe going that route will help your parents realize that you may in fact need to see a Pdoc.

You seem to have boxed yourself into a corner feeling you have no way to tell anyone or get help on your own. Just remember every box has a crack or two in it however small they may be.You owe it to yourself to get the HELP you need. Regardless of all fallout afterwards.

Good Luck

Conceiving you, they knew that children are sometimes difficult. Such is life.

I just don't want to hear what they have to say. I really don't want them to pay money for something that might be nothing. At this point, I am doubting that it is nothing, but what if it was nothing?

They would be paying money for a professional opinion, regardless of what this opinion happens to be. If you are O.K., your parents should be delighted. If you need help, your parents should be happy to learn that earlier treatment produces better results.

But like what do I say to them?

At some point you need to be honest about what you are going through.. If you cant do a face to face talk right now , why not type up a letter to them filling them in on your mood swings and how unhappy you are. explain in the letter how you fear what there reaction will be and you are just "Needing" to find out what is wrong with you.

Chances are after the shock wears off your parents will probably feel bad for not "seeing" something was wrong.

Thanks, that is a good idea. I will think about what I need to say to them. Everyone on here is really supportive, I appreciate it a lot.

It's natural to feel this way. It really is. It's natural to feel like there is nothing wrong when we know that something is. You just have to take that chance... forget the money and forget the chance that everything might just be ok. You know better than that, and you owe it to yourself to do what it takes to make things better for yourself. Your parents don't have to live through the mood swings.. you do! So do this for yourself and write out on a piece of paper, whether you take the info from one of our emails or you say something different, and give it to them. that is the easiest way to go about it and your worth it!

If they are the kind of people who would be swayed by "hard data", you may want to give them a mood chart for two weeks. You know better what kind of people they are.

The mood chart thing is actually a really good idea, thanks!

I am glad you can use it, but make it just for two weeks - do not delay asking for the parents' involvement. It is tough being a kid because you do not possess many of the rights that adults take for granted, such as the right to call a doctor without someone's help. But you are doing really great reaching out for help here.

I love PC, everyone on here is super supportive. It is nice having people to confide in about this stuff.