[Falconer]

Well, I'm not even sure where to look for help. Even Google searches aren't helping much. I'm not sure what to call what I'm going through.

It's a bit of an identity crisis, I think? Let's just say what started as me trying to set up my social media for my art portfolio ended with me stressed out for days and crying. I don't like my name. Seeing my name in an url or blog title gave me a negative feeling I don't have a word for.

I keep changing my social media names. I keep researching how to change my name legally. But when I bring it up to my partner and friends, they are confused and surprised. They don't understand what's wrong.

"Whatever, I like your name. What's wrong with it?"

Anyway, I can't even productively work on my blog and art portfolio because I'm stuck on my name and the whole concept of "branding yourself" as an artist and writing.

What is this I'm feeling? What information should I be looking at for help? I feel stuck and trapped. I want to be okay with my name. I want to comfortable with it. I want to not care about my name and move forward as a professional artist.

[Thunder Bow]

What New Name would you like to have? Do you have one? Use a name that fits in with your art work. Art always reflect who we are. Look at your work and see what it says about you. Feel free to put samples of your work on my Forum for feed back.

Am I correct you are at school (college or university)?

Go see a guidance counselor.They would be excellent to talk to and can forward you along to additional resources or appointments with professionals if required.

I see you are in Canada. You are fortunate. While sadly the waiting lists for psychological and psychiatric help are lengthy, gladly it is free and pretty comprehensive. That guidance counselor can provide you help in the interim while you wait for a referral (and that's only if they or your family doctor think it's necessary). Yes, see your family doctor. If you don't have one, the guidance counselor can help with that too.

My point is that if you sense you are struggling now - and it is okay to say "I need help" - then ask for that help as soon as you can.

[LucyG]

Why don't you come up with a pen name or pseudonym to use for your writing and art work? A lot of people do that to keep their private life private.

[Falconer]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

Am I correct you are at school (college or university)?

Go see a guidance counselor.They would be excellent to talk to and can forward you along to additional resources or appointments with professionals if required.

I see you are in Canada. You are fortunate. While sadly the waiting lists for psychological and psychiatric help are lengthy, gladly it is free and pretty comprehensive. That guidance counselor can provide you help in the interim while you wait for a referral (and that's only if they or your family doctor think it's necessary). Yes, see your family doctor. If you don't have one, the guidance counselor can help with that too.

My point is that if you sense you are struggling now - and it is okay to say "I need help" - then ask for that help as soon as you can.

Thanks. I've already graduated. So I'm far away from my school. I'm an American in Canada, so I'm not sure what to do.