should i get help?

hi, newbie here, and i really need some advice. i found this website and its tests about a month ago when i was looking for help. i had this empty and numb feeling practically everyday and it had just gotten worse since then. i cant shake them off. i took the depression test on several occasions and i dont think i had ever dipped below a score of 50. i took the anxiety one as well and i scored a mild, which combined would explain my paradoxical emotions a lot. recently my depression score was 75, and even though i understand that i shouldnt take the results to be completely accurate, im worried and i know i should still see an actual doctor. okay, so heres the thing: my parents doesnt really believe depression to be an actual mental illness. they think its an emotion that can be rid of and get over. also im taking a really important exam next year (o levels) and i dont want to take any medication that may slow my thinking. im torn between getting help for something i dont even know to be true, and staying silent not causing trouble. any help or advice at all would be great.

Hello green fox: Well... my thinking with regard to what you wrote is that you have some things going on that are clearly bothering you. You're correct that on-line test results should not be taken too seriously. They're mostly just "food for thought", so to speak. But since you do have these concerns, it seems to me what would make sense here would be, if you can, to spend some time with a mental health therapist to talk through what is going on with you.

I know you're concerned about taking psych med's. And, really, that may not even be appropriate. It certainly would not be the first thing I would jump into. The first thing would be to spend some time delving into what you're experiencing with a skilled mental health therapist. Then, along the way, if you at some point decide antidepressants, or other types of psych med's, are needed then you can look into trying those out as well. But first things first, as the saying goes.

I see this is your first post here on PC. So... welcome to PsychCentral… from the Skeezyks! May the time you spend here be of benefit.

PsychCentral is a great place to get information as well as support for mental health issues. The more you post, & reply to other members’ posts, the more a part of the community you will become. Plus there are social groups you can join & chat rooms where you’ll be able to connect with other PC members in real time (once your first 5 posts have been reviewed & approved.) Lots of great stuff! So please keep posting!