[joshwendt]

My parents think that Im faking anxiety/depression. They expect me to just change my thoughts and they think that I dont need any help. They also think that I just want medication to feel good (I need medication to help my anxiety, the therapy that Ive had before didnt work)

[MiddayNap]

Well, you sort of do want medication in order to feel good-or at least better-which isn't a crime. I'm sure if they suffered from anxiety or depression they would want to "feel good" too.
The answer to your question isn't quite so easy, as people are very stubborn. Adults, especially. Depending upon what sort of people your parents are, you may never convince them of the legitimacy of your mental distress. Unfortunately misinformation over mental-illnesses is widespread and it can be difficult to explain to a person with a, for lack of a better term, healthy mind to comprehend that if you could simply change your thoughts, you wouldn't have anxiety or depression. Hell, all mental illness would be eradicated if such a ask were that easy! For the time being, your only option is to continue attempting to explain your issues, which can be quite aggravating when your parents simply won't listen. Regardless of what your parents think or whether they allow you to take medication (which they should. No parent denies their injured child pain medication because they feel the child wants them to "feel good", but I digress.) you should focus on feeling better, mentally. I'm not entirely sure how one goes about doing that, but this website seems a smart place to look.

Despite having nothing of real value to say, I responded to your post for the simple reason that I do not like questions to be left unanswered. Hopefully somewhere in the midst of my ramblings, you will find something helpful.

[AlwaysVera]

Sorry your parents aren't getting it. And good for you that you are still advocating for yourself, you should be proud that you are trying to keep yourself healthy even without support. I wonder, is there a counselor or nurse at your school that you feel comfortable talking to? I'm not sure what the situation is there, so please don't take that as a suggestion, just something to consider if it feels safe. Also, do you have a family doctor you could get an appointment with and ask for help? It may be that your parents need information from an authority figure to come to a place where they take it seriously. Keep trying and don't give up. You deserve to feel good.

Do you have a doctor, a GP or family practice doctor, that your family sees? If so, he or she could be helpful here.

I would recommend a checkup with a family physician for anyone who has new onset mental health issues. (You may have already done this.)

Your parents may be thinking that you are trying to get a prescription for a benzodiazepine medication like Xanax. That is a drug that is often abused and is sold on the street.

It's also a very effective medication for treating anxiety, but doctors are getting away from prescribing the benzodiazepines, because people tend to develop physical dependence on the medication after using it for a while and then they feel very sick if they try to stop taking it.

A doctor is more likely to prescribe an antidepressant medication or a medicine like propanolol, which was originally used for high blood pressure, for treating anxiety these days.

Neither of these drugs makes you "feel good" (aside from making your anxiety better). They are not drugs that are typically abused. In fact, they usually come with some side effects, so it could be said that they make you feel bad. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I think someone has to be suffering quite a bit from anxiety or depression in order to put up with the side effects from the drugs used to treat it.

But anyway...I'd look for a doctor to talk to. If the doctor seems reasonable but wants you to try a particular diet and exercise program before agreeing to prescribe meds, try that if you're able.

My experience with anxiety and depression has been that several things in combination are the best way to combat them, and that includes diet and exercise.

L-theanine, a supplement that contains an ingredient found in green tea, can help with mild anxiety. (I don't know how bad your anxiety is, so I'm suggesting it.)

I would think that if your parents see you making an effort to get regular sleep, avoid having too much caffeine or sugar, to eat protein at each meal, and to do some exercise, all because you are having anxiety problems, that they might think "Wow, I think he really is having a problem".

If you're having so much anxiety that you are having panic attacks and can barely bring yourself to eat, then feel free to disregard my suggestions that apply to people with lower levels of anxiety.

Good luck. I'm glad that you've found this community. You can learn a lot here, plus it's a good place to vent.

[joshwendt]

Originally Posted by AlwaysVera

Sorry your parents aren't getting it. And good for you that you are still advocating for yourself, you should be proud that you are trying to keep yourself healthy even without support. I wonder, is there a counselor or nurse at your school that you feel comfortable talking to? I'm not sure what the situation is there, so please don't take that as a suggestion, just something to consider if it feels safe. Also, do you have a family doctor you could get an appointment with and ask for help? It may be that your parents need information from an authority figure to come to a place where they take it seriously. Keep trying and don't give up. You deserve to feel good.

Ive all ready seen doctors about it but my parents still dont take it seriously ( and they try to understate my problems). I want to see a doctor/psyciatrist without my parents but I dont know how to.

[joshwendt]

Originally Posted by jo_thorne

Do you have a doctor, a GP or family practice doctor, that your family sees? If so, he or she could be helpful here.

I would recommend a checkup with a family physician for anyone who has new onset mental health issues. (You may have already done this.)

Your parents may be thinking that you are trying to get a prescription for a benzodiazepine medication like Xanax. That is a drug that is often abused and is sold on the street.

It's also a very effective medication for treating anxiety, but doctors are getting away from prescribing the benzodiazepines, because people tend to develop physical dependence on the medication after using it for a while and then they feel very sick if they try to stop taking it.

A doctor is more likely to prescribe an antidepressant medication or a medicine like propanolol, which was originally used for high blood pressure, for treating anxiety these days.

Neither of these drugs makes you "feel good" (aside from making your anxiety better). They are not drugs that are typically abused. In fact, they usually come with some side effects, so it could be said that they make you feel bad. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I think someone has to be suffering quite a bit from anxiety or depression in order to put up with the side effects from the drugs used to treat it.

But anyway...I'd look for a doctor to talk to. If the doctor seems reasonable but wants you to try a particular diet and exercise program before agreeing to prescribe meds, try that if you're able.

My experience with anxiety and depression has been that several things in combination are the best way to combat them, and that includes diet and exercise.

L-theanine, a supplement that contains an ingredient found in green tea, can help with mild anxiety. (I don't know how bad your anxiety is, so I'm suggesting it.)

I would think that if your parents see you making an effort to get regular sleep, avoid having too much caffeine or sugar, to eat protein at each meal, and to do some exercise, all because you are having anxiety problems, that they might think "Wow, I think he really is having a problem".

If you're having so much anxiety that you are having panic attacks and can barely bring yourself to eat, then feel free to disregard my suggestions that apply to people with lower levels of anxiety.

Good luck. I'm glad that you've found this community. You can learn a lot here, plus it's a good place to vent.

my anxiety is so bad that It is almost impossible for me to talk to people or know what to say/how to keep a conversation going. It doesnt help that I have constant paranoid/negative thoughts and it is impossible for me to change my thoughts. I have panic attacks at times but I dont think that they are so severe That I cant eat. I think that my anxiety would be classified as severe because it stops me from being able to do normal things like having a social life. I already take prozac but I want a medication that works better for anxiety (and benzodiaphines would probably work better and faster,to be honest my anxiety is so bad that I dont really care if I take something that is addictive because I just want something that will remove my anxiety and enable me to function normally asap). I want to talk to a psychiatrist about medication without my parents being involved but i dont know how to do that. I also want to see a psychologist or someone else that can actually help me (Ive already been classified as "to difficult to cure" by 2 therapists)