[JasmineFlower]

Hello!
I suffer from anxiety, mostly social anxiety as I used to hate going out in public. I still struggle to do so but I found a new doctor and she put me on Sertraline which I think is Zoloft.
Anyway, I've been getting pretty stressed out lately which causes me to feel like I'm having a mental breakdown. When my brother speaks in the other room, I just want to yell for him to shut up. It seems like every little thing at that moment causes me to want to snap. I then shut myself away, using laying in bed and going to sleep.
I've also noticed I've become really paranoid lately, believing everybody, even my mom and brother, are talking behind my back. I even go out and public and if I see someone even look at me, I think they're talking about me badly or I panic that I look horrible or that I've done something wrong.
I really want to talk to a psychiatrist or psychologist. I really believe it'll be beneficial to me to help manage my stress and figure out if my anxiety is causing my paranoia and mental breakdowns or is it something more. I additionally have high moments where nothing can upset me and bad moments where every little thing makes me want to cry.

Finally, the problem is that my Mom is sort of anti-mental illnesses, if that makes any sense. She mostly believes that mental illnesses are mostly faked and that some don't exist at all. If I try to tell her what's going on mentally with me, she either changes the subject or says that it's just been a bad day or that I'm tired.
I really want to see a psychiatrist but I don't know how to convince her to let me. I am 18 but I can't just up and leave one morning to another town without telling her where I'm going. I was thinking about privately talking with me doctor, because my Mom usually goes back with me, and ask her to refer me to a psychiatrist. Then I could just tell my Mom that my doctor wants me to see someone.
I don't know what to do. I'm sorry it's a long message but do any of you have any ideas? Should I just talk to my doctor to refer me? And if I do talk to my Mom about seeing a psychiatrist, what should I say? I know she's not going to be happy about it. She always says nothing's wrong but then I'll go back into my room thinking she's mad at me and thinking bad of me.
What should I do?

[reb569]

At 18 you can definitely request that your Dr appointments be private from your Mom. Rather than starting off with a psychiatrist, maybe you should consider a therapist instead. If after working with the therapist for a while, he or she might refer you to a psychiatrist if meds are in order. A Therapist can also help you develop coping mechanisms to help keep your anxiety building to the paranoia level.

You mention that a DR put you on what you think might be Zoloft. Did the paranoia start after that or before it? Maybe your dosage needs to be adjusted? Can you go see that DR?

[MickeyCheeky]

Talking to your doctor in private seems like a good idea to me.. you could try. Even just a therapist could be helpful.

[JasmineFlower]

Originally Posted by reb569

At 18 you can definitely request that your Dr appointments be private from your Mom. Rather than starting off with a psychiatrist, maybe you should consider a therapist instead. If after working with the therapist for a while, he or she might refer you to a psychiatrist if meds are in order. A Therapist can also help you develop coping mechanisms to help keep your anxiety building to the paranoia level.

You mention that a DR put you on what you think might be Zoloft. Did the paranoia start after that or before it? Maybe your dosage needs to be adjusted? Can you go see that DR?

I'm on a low level of Zoloft. I had the paranoia type problems before then but I always connected them with my anxiety. When I got my prescription, I thought it would help with it but it hasn't.
Also, I'll definitely look for a therapist and I appreciate both of you commenting.
I have a doctor's appointment in May so I'm going to tell my Mom I want to try going by myself for once because I've never done so before. I love her but she's one of those Moms who want to always be with you.
One of my problems is that she's sort of my attachment for my anxiety. If I'm away from her or my brother, I have to make myself breathe and calm down so I don't panic. Doesn't pan out well for my future off on my own but maybe seeing a therapist would help.

[JaynePhoenix]

Reading your post and​ going from my own experience of (Social) anxiety. I think perhaps a therapist would be of more help then going straight to a psychiatrist. From experience psychiatrist tend to be more for prescribing medication which isn't always effective and if your main concern is anxiety will only treat the symptoms rather then the root cause. Medication and therapy in conjunction could be and in my case was more help. Therapy will help you to understand whats causing your anxiety and look at ways to cope with it, whereas the medication just masks the symptoms. Perhaps look into a therapist whose trained in CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy).
Good luck​.

[reb569]

Originally Posted by JasmineFlower

I'm on a low level of Zoloft. I had the paranoia type problems before then but I always connected them with my anxiety. When I got my prescription, I thought it would help with it but it hasn't.
Also, I'll definitely look for a therapist and I appreciate both of you commenting.
I have a doctor's appointment in May so I'm going to tell my Mom I want to try going by myself for once because I've never done so before. I love her but she's one of those Moms who want to always be with you.
One of my problems is that she's sort of my attachment for my anxiety. If I'm away from her or my brother, I have to make myself breathe and calm down so I don't panic. Doesn't pan out well for my future off on my own but maybe seeing a therapist would help.

Definitely, look into a therapist. In the meantime, grounding techniques may be able to help you control your anxiety so that you can do more on your own.

You have several options.

Make your own appointment to see your family doctor and they can start the referral process. You are old enough to do this yourself and that such visit be entirely confidential. Your family has no say in the matter.

Talk to your school guidance counsellor. They can point you to some resources including a school board psychologist. Either of them can act as an advocate on your behalf with your family. Again, your parents cannot deny you help.

Your community may have a centralised intake for adolescent psychologists.

Contact your local chapter of whatever your mental health association is and they can provide you with a list of resources including psychologists.

Check out support groups. My support group is open to students. If a family member wishes to attend the group may welcome this. I know my own group encourages this.

As a dependent you are entitled to those resources available on a parent's EAP (Employee Assistance Plan). Don't confuse this with the benefits plan. This is a resource of numerous modes of assistance - including finding a psychologist)

You are not alone.