Another Teen with problems here...

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site. I was looking around Google to look for bipolar symptoms cause my friend mentioned that it's possible that I am bipolar. Honestly, I think it's just depression. But it's not that I'm depressed 100% of the day. It's just everyday and during most of the day. Right now, I'm calm (although kind of tired). I have many problems in my life and I think they're getting out of hand. I need someone to help me get through these problems before I just might commit suicide like I plan in my head over and over. Please reply soon.

hello and welcome to the forums....please know that you are not alone with your problems or your thoughts.....keep posting and we will try to help you all we can....

Welcome to PC. I am so sorry you are in such pain. Know there are many people who understand how you are feeling. Please take care. Please reach out. It is a much better course of action. Take care and be kind to yourself.

please know that you will be heard and supported here. taking your life isn't the answer. getting some help is what we would like to see you do. there are tons of caring and supportive people here and if you will talk to us, we'll listen and share with you........xoxoxo pat

I guess I should introduce myself to everyone. My name is Christopher (call me Chris if you'd like). I'm 17 years old from New York City. My mom got back with my alcoholic and abusive father after a 5 year seperation 2 years ago. I have a 19 year old brother, and two sisters (13 and 6). I dont always get along with any of them. My mom, I can sometimes talk to, but about nothing personal. My dad, he's basically ALWAYS drunk and is both verbally and sometimes physically abusive. But not as physical as he was 5 years ago (still extremely verbally). I usually look towards three people to talk to. They are Mario, my teacher, Jean, my best friend, and my guidance councelor, Samina. I have to go, but I'll be sure to check in really soon.

i am so glad that you have IRL support. and equally happy that you found PC, Chris.

you've got a lot on your plate right now and i hope that you have a pleasant day...in spite of that......xoxoxo pat

Hi Chris! Welcome to PC.

Suicidal thoughts are an important symptom of depression. Make sure Samina is aware of what your thinking so that she can make the right recommendations. As for whether you are bipolar... well that's physiologically based and requires treatment. Another possibility based on what's going on in your life right now is what's called "situational depression". I know there's not much you can do about your situation, but therapy and/or medication might make it survivable for you.

Try to get some help before you spiral down into the depths of major depression. The longer and deeper you allow yourself to be depressed, the longer and more difficult it becomes to recover. The fact that you have periods where you still feel like your not depressed is a good thing. But it doesn't mean you shouldn't get help yet. Now is the best time.

Good luck! And keep posting here on PC! We're here for you.

P.S. PM stands for personal message and most people who post here are available to talk to privately if you want to.

excellent post, AG.........to send a PM, click on our name and our profile will pop up. on the bottom left, it says "send a private message".....voila!

"situational depression" seems partially responsible for your mindscape. I, too, grew up with an alcoholic and verbally explosive parent. With all the normal adjustments you are going through as you traverse your adolescence, the last thing you deserve is a loud-mouth obnoxious and psychologically aggressive parental unit interfering with your peace of mind. Square your shoulders and persevere in spite of his madness. Talk those suicidal notions out with your support system and make strides to broaden that support network. As has been mentioned, you'll find alot of "quality people" here . I know I have.
Post. Journal. Doodle. Trap those negative thoughts on the page. It lessens their power! You're 17... in a couple of years you'll be calling your own shots and you will not be subjected to the mental trauma this man projects that is none of yours to own.

You Rock. Never Forget That. You Can Do Anything.

Peace and Strength to You. Have Fun Be Safe.

-Breezer

and PM any of us...........we're here........xoxoxo pat

You guys are so great. You're posts made me smile. I tried to start stating my problems, but I didn't know where to start...I still don't. I guess I can start out with my eating habits. I force myself not to eat a lot. I could starve myself for days. The longest I went without eating actual meals was 2 1/2 days. I don't know why I do it. I mean, when I see the results on my stomach, I kind of feel a sense of accomplishment. According to Samina it's all about how I try to take control of the things I can control because I can't control many other issues in my life right now. Today I starved myself from 7 in the morning till 9 in the night when I finally had a sandwhich. So that's one thing I'm dealing with.

Oh goodie, my girlfriend just broke up with me. It's only been 2 weeks, and I knew it was coming. It still hurts though. I guess it's because of the loss of not having to be single and alone.

Just FYI, the girl in the pic is my best friend Jean.

Bummer! Things never happen at a good time. I'm sorry you have so much to deal with at one time.

Starving yourself is often a sign that you feel things are out of control in your life and you are trying to control something. It's not a good idea, though, at 17. The important thing is to get proper nutrition, however. There are ways to do it with calorie restriction. You have to make good food choices and plan when and what to eat. I think you could create a diet that would give you something you can control without damaging your health. Google "calorie restriction" for suggestions.

You probably don't need to lose weight, but if you're not eating you could suffer from malnutrition that will cause health problems that you may not see for a long time in the future. Educate yourself on calorie restriction so that you can control your diet without hurting yourself. There are ways to control calories without hurting yourself.

When I was 17 I was in a situation very similar to yours. It was hell! I also used self starvation as a means to feel better about myself. I made some bad life choices and some good ones at that time, but they were made because I was living in hell. I feel for you. I've been there. I wish I'd had the support that you have. But most importantly I WISH I'D HAD A THERAPIST.

Maybe Sabina can refer you to someone. There may be a way to work it out so that you don't have to tell your parents too much about it. But you need a professional to coach you on coping skills so that you don't make the bad decisions that so many of us make in a bad situation.

pm me if you want to talk more in depth. Or pm any of us. We're here for you. Take care.

-Randy

Oh Chris,

I'm sorry you are troubled. Please know that there are so many of us, like you, that fight depression.
Do you think you could go to your family doc and talk to him, maybe he will put you on an anti-depressant. I have been taking them for many years and they sure help me.
Please keep coming on and talking with us everytime you need to. We will try and help all we can.
I'm sorry your girlfriend broke up with you. It can be a very hurtful thing.
Linda

In sthe longterm, it is good for us to be responsible for ourselves.

In the sort run, we need to be ableto sk for help and trust others.

A rule of themb for me isthatI am always very aware of being depressed,

but when I am hypomanic I feel normal and need feedback from others. Let them know you are open to their observations but don't want to turn over control of your life to them. Very hard to let them care and help but not let them feel it is their fault.

Sharing with others helps.

Just because you are a teen and have a lot of troubles doesn't meen there isn't more than that going on with you. and vice versa - you aren't imagining the facts of your life, andthey would bother anybody.