Depression / Question
Published: August 3, 2007
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Hello. I've been looking for the last hour on someway to help myself out of a small depression I've brought upon myself. I am very dependant on my boyfriend, and he is dependant on me. We have the usual relationship, seeing eachother at school, hanging out at eachother's houses, and we talk online and share the same art interests, etc. Recently, he's gone through a change, one that is dumb to get upset over, but certain changes just bother me. He knew it'd bother me, and thought I could just get over it. I havent. We've been bickering and fighting for the past week, and I've cut myself three times. All of that adding up on my shoulders, plus the death of my great grandmother is too much. It's the usual speal, but I'm never usually so depressed like this. I'm always apparently happy and light hearted. All of this is different, and I need help. I feel like I have no one right now. Not even my boyfriend can help. Everytime I go to him for help, we end up getting upset at eachother and I go to hurt myself again. What can I do?
Signed: Trying To Help Myself Out Of A Small Depression
Dear Trying To Help Myself Out Of A Small Depression,
TeenHealthFX thinks that it would be helpful for you to meet with a mental health professional for the following reasons:
- To have your depression assessed in terms of severity and to work out an effective treatment plan that will help you to feel better with some time and work.
- To identify what contributes to your urge to cut, to work through some of these contributing factors, and to develop alternate, healthy coping mechanisms to cutting.
- To get support while dealing with grieving issues related to your grandmother’s death.
- To learn how to feel less dependent on your boyfriend. There is a difference between wanting to be with someone and needing to be with someone. When we need to be with someone it is a lot scarier because there is always this terrible fear of losing that person – and we also tend to go along with things we don’t want to because we are so afraid of losing the person.
- To learn how to deal effectively with any relationship issues that arise between you and your boyfriend.
- To get a general sense of support and guidance, since you are saying that you do not feel like you have anyone to lean on or turn to right now.
To locate a therapist in your area you can ask your primary care physician, call your insurance company for a list of in-network providers, ask for referrals from friends or family members who have been in therapy, or ask for referrals from a school counselor. If you live in northern
You can also contact the Self-Injury Hotline (information only, not a crisis line) at 1-800-DON’T-CUT, 1-800-366-8288.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
It is estimated that major depressive disorder (MDD) affects about 5% of adolescents, and that between 10 - 15% of adolescents have some symptoms of depression at any one time.
