[Browncurtains]

I really need some advice here guys. I want to approach my parents about my depression.
I've been self harming for a couple months now and it's getting to a point where I'm worried. At first I only started on my finger, then my arm, and now I cut on my stomach. I also have lingering sadness and loneliness that makes me not wanting to do anything.
The reason I'm reluctant to go to my parents is because they are very religious people. I've been reading about our rules about 'self murder' and suicide for our religion and it's not kindly looked upon. I'm scared that my parents aren't going to take me to a doctor or therapist, but instead try to 'fix' me theirselves. I know they'll be worried but they'll be angry too. they'll try to force me to stop SH and tell me to pray, and force me to talk to them everyday. they'll probably take me to our church and try to "help" me. Worst of all, I'm afraid they'll try to make me go places and do things, they'll tell me to stop being sad and 'find my joy in God'.
I really need help in how to approach them and show them that I can't just be helped by prayer, but that I need medical help too.
I don't know if this post will be allowed to stay on this forum, but if you have read this whole long paragraph, please help me and give me advice.

[nicoleb2]

Are you in school? Is there someone you could talk to at school to try and figure some of this out?
A guidance counselor or school psychologist or social worker>?

[Bewilderbeest]

My daughter went thru a period of SI. She stopped on her own, in no small part due to her own faith, and only told us about it after talking it over with her youth pastor. It sounds like you might not have that trusting kind of relationship with a pastor, but I think that having someone like that in your corner when you tell them about it might be helpful, especially if you feel they're prone to ignore "professionals".

Of course, they might surprise you.

[Browncurtains]

Unfortunately no. I'm homeschooled so, again, the only people I could talk to are my parents. Which is why I'm so lost about what to do.

[Browncurtains]

Sorry, the last post was about the school thing. This ones about my pastor. We of to a pretty small church, so I'm one of the the few youth there, we have only one pastor and 2 other church officers. One of them is my dad and the other is this really scary old guy. I don't really have a close relationship with my pastor, so it would be very hard to tell him or anyone else at my church.

Well for starters, can you share with us what might be the issues with your depression?
Why do you think you cut?
Can you make an appointment with your family doctor under the pretense that you're getting dizzy spells and then tell the doctor how you feel and that you think your parents won't understand...
Just a thought...keep posting!
Dad