Depression / Question
Published: January 9, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I've lost all will to live. I don't want to kill myself-or rather, I do but I won't. I have too many responsibilities. I just want to die by a third party. I'm not inherently sad, or depressed, or angry. I don't feel any sort of emotion most of the time. There is nothing I want in life. Any suggestions?
Signed: There Is Nothing I Want In Life
Dear There Is Nothing I Want In Life,
We are grateful that you are reaching out and we will do our best to help you.
Although you do not feel particularly depressed, the absence of emotions and not wanting to live can be strong signals that the condition is present. Depression is something that can affect one out of every four people. The problem is many people do not realize that there is a biochemical component to depression that they cannot control on their own. The good news is that depression is a treatable condition and not something you have to suffer through without any hope.
Even if depression is not the culprit, living in quiet desperation is no way to go through life. You might want to start with a full medical workup to determine if there is an underlying medical condition that directly affects your moods. In any case it is helpful to rule out medical conditions or identify them before you see a psychiatrist or therapist. Once the problem is identified you can work with the appropriate health professional and decide a course of treatment.
If you are having active suicidal thoughts or are afraid you may hurt yourself then you need to be evaluated at the crisis center at your local hospital. If you live in northern New Jersey you could call the Crisis Hotline from Morristown Memorial Hospital at 973.540.0100. Outside this area you can call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
TeenHealthFX recommends letting your parents or a trusted adult know what is going on. They also can assist you in finding help but more importantly they can offer the support you need and deserve.
The other option if you are not in immediate crisis to seek help from a professional as soon as possible. Most schools have crisis counselors or a school nurse available for students who are going through an emotional crisis. They could assist you with finding a therapist in your area.
It is important to remember that as bad as you may feel now, things can and will get better. The journey to feeling better starts by asking for help. It is important to initiate this process as soon as possible.
If you would like help finding a therapist in northern New Jersey, you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888.2471400.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Teens often abuse prescription drugs because of the myth that these drugs provide a medically safe high.
