What to expect.?
Question:
What can I expect at that visit and what should I say?
What can I expect afterwards and in the long-term?
I am 18 just out of high school and I live with my mom, my stepfather and my three siblings, what is the best way to break this news to them, they have no idea what is going on. Should I just let the doctor do the talking?
Answers:
Doctor will lead you. Just be honest with the doctor and it will be ok. When the time comes you will tell your folks what you need to tell, or not. You don't need to think about anything beyond tomorrow's appointment right now... Good luck.
You worry about getting yourself help first. Your family will be proud that you are. They will understand.
Please be completely honest with your doctor. Not sure what sort of doctor you are going to be seeing, but your family doc might not be the best choice. You might want to talk to a psychiatrist since they have experience with what you're going through. Like I said, be honest, and tell him/her that you're engaging in activities that are not in your best interest just to feel "happy" or better about yourself. Don't think you're the only one, either - there are plenty of us out here who have (or are going through) what you feel. Good luck - hang in there!
Tell the truth if you really want to be helped. You are probably going to be recommended for therapy and medication. You may never stop taking medication..it could be lifelong. I suggest choosing one close friend or family member you trust the most and feel most comfortable with to confide in and ask if they will accompany you to the doctor. They shouldn't participate in the session, just ride there with you and wait in the waiting room with you, and be there when you are done your session. I had a roommate do that for me a long time ago, and she didn't do anything but come to the office with me and walk home with me, but it meant the world to me and I will never forget it. it made things easier. Go by what the doctor tells you, but if you choose just one family member, the both of you can tell the rest of the family. That person doesn't need to chime in, but they can sit there with you such that you both sit down to talk to everyone else about it. You'll have to tell eventually to really feel better and be helped.
None of this is easy, and I'm sure they care and want to know what's going on. A good start to a conversation about it might be, "I've been feeling really badly lately and have concerns to the point where I feel I need professional help." Then go from there.
Good luck and let me know if you need more info (email). I've been on meds for 12 years and while psychiatric care and constant meds are a pain, life would be terrible without it. The hardest part is getting started and waiting for meds to work. Now is definitely the time, and good for you that you recognize the problems and have taken a step to fix them. (That's half the battle, actually).
I hope all goes well. Stay strong.
p.s. As an aside, I know a song that I *think* is about cutting and maybe you will relate. It's called "Breathe Me" by Sia. See if you can find it. Maybe it's not, or you'll hate it, but I suspect you may relate. I always felt better with music that I identified to when I was depressed or lost.
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