Worries, Fears and Anxiety Disorders / Question
Published: November 30, 2009
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I'm obsessed with painting and it's getting in the way of my studies, my homework always piles up. I've tried to stop doing it so obsessively, but everytime I stop, I start feeling depressed, hopeless, and empty, so I'm afraid to let go of my art. I love posting my stuff on the internet and watching it get all the attention it gets- it's a great distraction from my unhappy moods. But I REALLY need to start concentrating on the important things like school and academics. I haven't the motivation to pull myself away, and thinking of my work throws me into despair. I've been plagued so much with thoughts of suicide, I NEED to silence the unhappiness by working on a painting. I suppose my relationship with art is unhealthy...How can I let go of painting? Please help
Signed: I'm obsessed with painting
Dear I'm obsessed with painting,
The problem here is not your painting but what painting has become to you. You are right your relationship with your art has become an unhealthy obsession for you. Although TeenHealthFX cannot diagnose you over the web it sounds like you may be suffering from an obsessive/compulsive disorder or some related anxiety disorder. The obsession is that you think about painting over and over and the compulsion is that you have to paint in order to gain some relief. The big problem is that this seems to have become a never ending scenario where you feel trapped and without any other coping mechanisms. This must seem like a nightmare but suicide is not the answer. The affect of you taking your life would be so devastating to your family and friends that many of them would never fully recover.
From your letter it does not sound that anybody else is aware of the despair you have been going through. It is very important to seek help and ask for help. Let your parents or another adult that you know well and trust, what has been going on with you. Next make an appointment with a mental health professional. They can do an evaluation and come up with a treatment plan. This may involve a medical evaluation to determine if medication would be helpful for your symptoms.
No matter how bad it seems right now thing can and will get better. There is help out there if you reach out.
If you get to the point that you are seriously considering suicide or are afraid of your impulses then you need to seek help immediately. You can call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey you can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline, 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.
If you live in northern
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Signed: TeenHealthFX
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