[lb84]

Hi, I'm 16 years old and am struggling with a lot of things right now.

I finally opened up to my mom about these things a few months ago and I felt that we were at a standstill and I really want to get diagnosed. I don't want to received any treatment whatsoever, just a diagnosis.

I've had too many unanswered questions in my life and I think a diagnosis will really help me.

Therefore, my mom and I are going to arrange an appointment with my doctor in order to set a plan for a diagnosis without treatment. However, now I'm extremely nervous and anxious.

I just really need some support as I take this step in my life. I'm very, very worried about what's going to happen since I suffer from some very serious symptoms and want to avoid any kind of treatment, both therapy and medication.

If anyone has anything to help me out here, it would be so greatly appreciated. I've just been really anxious since my mom and I talked last night and I'm not sure what to do.

Hi. I am sorry to hear you are struggling. It must be comforting that your Mom is sympathetic and is helping you see an MD. I am confused by your post though. You indicate that you need support but you don't want treatment for what ails you, only a diagnosis. Why don't you want treatment or medication? Can you share your problem with us? Some of us may be dealing with the same problem and can share their experience. I wish you all the best.

[lb84]

Originally Posted by unhappyguy

Hi. I am sorry to hear you are struggling. It must be comforting that your Mom is sympathetic and is helping you see an MD. I am confused by your post though. You indicate that you need support but you don't want treatment for what ails you, only a diagnosis. Why don't you want treatment or medication? Can you share your problem with us? Some of us may be dealing with the same problem and can share their experience. I wish you all the best.

I'm sorry to confuse you. What I meant by support is any kind of help people can offer me about what I should say/do while talking to the doctor. I've been hiding my issues for over four years, so taking steps like this frighten me immensely and cause huge amounts of anxiety. I do not want treatment, medication, or therapy. I've tried two therapists and it does not fit me, I don't have the right personality type for that. I'm too introverted to just sit down and speak to people like that. And medication scares me half to death. I don't want to change who I am.

Well, my doctor has already told me that I have depression and anxiety. But I have many problems that are not diagnosed. I have hallucinations (both auditory and visual), extreme paranoia, restrictive eating, and some other things too.

I'm just really worried that the doctor is going to put me in treatment or convince my mom that I need treatment even though I really don't need nor want it.

I'm just tired of facing everyday not knowing. But I'm worried because I just now got my mom to understand that therapy is not right for me (she agrees though that I should not go on medication unless absolutely, positively necessary) and I'm worried that the doctor will change her mind.

I'm also terrified of a diagnosis. But excited. I'm just very anxious to have to talk about some of this stuff with the doctor. As I've said, I've been hiding these things for over four years and it is not easy for me to open up about.

[Leed]

Sweetie, I've had mental health issues since I was a child. My parents didn't care -- they were too busy getting drunk. I had no one to talk to, so I just suffered thru it.

When I was in my twenties, I went to a therapist who diagnosed me. She was extremely GOOD -- but she even saw how serious my issues were, so she wanted me to be put on medication, and since she was a psychologist, she sent me to my medical doctor who put me on meds. It did NOT "change who I was." I was STILL the same ME. It just evened things out for me, so that I COULD be me, and not the manic, scared person that I had been. I continued with therapy, but at one time I decided I needed to go into the hospital, so I willingly committed myself to the mental ward. I spent 2 weeks there, and it was the BEST thing I could have done for myself. I had one-on-one meetings with my psychiatrist along with group sessions.

I'm in my 60's now, and I'm STILL on medications and will be for the rest of my life. Mental illness doesn't go away - it rarely gets "cured." But you could say that I'm in 'remission' as I haven't had to have therapy in a long time now. As long as I stay on my meds, I'm ok but I have to see my doctor once a month.

PLEASE - don't be afraid of treatment! If you have a TRUSTED therapist, then talking to him/her isn't difficult. It IS confidential, and no one is told of what you say!!! It is between YOU and the therapist. Even your Mother isn't told. And like I said, the medication doesn't change WHO you are -- it just allows you to better function.

Don't stop at a diagnosis -- what's the point of getting it if you're not going to DO something about it? Please honey, take the step to better mental health! You won't regret it, and it means a FUTURE for you. Right now, your future is in limbo if you don't get treatment.

I wish you the best. God bless. Hugs, Lee

[lb84]

Originally Posted by Leed

Sweetie, I've had mental health issues since I was a child. My parents didn't care -- they were too busy getting drunk. I had no one to talk to, so I just suffered thru it.

When I was in my twenties, I went to a therapist who diagnosed me. She was extremely GOOD -- but she even saw how serious my issues were, so she wanted me to be put on medication, and since she was a psychologist, she sent me to my medical doctor who put me on meds. It did NOT "change who I was." I was STILL the same ME. It just evened things out for me, so that I COULD be me, and not the manic, scared person that I had been. I continued with therapy, but at one time I decided I needed to go into the hospital, so I willingly committed myself to the mental ward. I spent 2 weeks there, and it was the BEST thing I could have done for myself. I had one-on-one meetings with my psychiatrist along with group sessions.

I'm in my 60's now, and I'm STILL on medications and will be for the rest of my life. Mental illness doesn't go away - it rarely gets "cured." But you could say that I'm in 'remission' as I haven't had to have therapy in a long time now. As long as I stay on my meds, I'm ok but I have to see my doctor once a month.

PLEASE - don't be afraid of treatment! If you have a TRUSTED therapist, then talking to him/her isn't difficult. It IS confidential, and no one is told of what you say!!! It is between YOU and the therapist. Even your Mother isn't told. And like I said, the medication doesn't change WHO you are -- it just allows you to better function.

Don't stop at a diagnosis -- what's the point of getting it if you're not going to DO something about it? Please honey, take the step to better mental health! You won't regret it, and it means a FUTURE for you. Right now, your future is in limbo if you don't get treatment.

I wish you the best. God bless. Hugs, Lee

I do not have a trusted therapist. I have no therapist at all because I do not work well in a therapy setting.

I am not mentally ready for treatment or anything like that. I just want a diagnosis. It's so hard to explain to people but my life is full of these wide open doors and unanswered questions and they just fill my mind up and I get so confused and frustrated. And I know something is not right so I can't just ignore it and leave it alone.

The point of a diagnosis is to have something to tell people as well. Next year in school a diagnosis will be extremely helpful if I am struggling to focus because of certain issues I have.

I do not want medication. At all. I don't want it and I never ever have. My mother does not want me on medication.

I'm so tired of doing research and thinking "oh wait that's me too...." and then not knowing what's wrong with me or why I feel/act the way I do. I just want answers, not solutions and I know that doesn't make sense to a lot of people but now I'm just panicking about my doctors and I'm just so frustrated and the people on the "support chat" are just making jokes and fooling around and I'm so lonely and alone.