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Many Problems, Don't Know What To Do
Hello. I don’t trust anyone in real life to seek help from, so I’ve come here.
I must seem pretty stable, in a relationship for 2+ years until 6 months ago, same job for 2 1/2 years, I go to college, I have some good friends. However, I started abusing drugs over a year ago. I’ve suffered from depression from 9yrs to 17, and now again from 19. I saw three mental health professionals during this time. Was prescribed Lexapro but I it made me throw up. Currently use Lunesta. Some Symptoms (I had to cut out more than half of this post + symptoms because of the character limit):
I think of dying every day. I’ve lost 13 pounds over two days from sheer depression.
When I turned 18, I experienced tourettes-like symptoms-->I have uncontrollable bursts of cursing/saying other weird nonsense several times a day + varying motor tics. Outbursts in class, around parents, in public, etc. I didn’t do this when I was younger.
I’m very paranoid and off emotionally. Have extreme emotional highs and lows that change quickly. Example=while at work the other day (I'm a cashier), I was helping to bag someone's groceries. Their yellow colored canvas bag made me really ecstatic. At the end of that day I was depressed, drugged, wanting to die. This is normal for me.
I’m very paranoid when others ignore me. I had plans to hang out with a friend, but he then said we couldn't hang out because hurt himself moving furniture. I got really depressed and assumed he lied so he wouldn't have to hang out with me. Also normal for me and I deal with thoughts like this every day constantly. Most of the time I feel extremely depressed or just so angry I could hurt someone. I also have pretty much every symptom of obsessive compulsive personality disorder.
What I’d like is help. I don’t have someone I can ask in real life for help. I don't know how to find a mental health professional. Thank you for your help.
I must seem pretty stable, in a relationship for 2+ years until 6 months ago, same job for 2 1/2 years, I go to college, I have some good friends. However, I started abusing drugs over a year ago. I’ve suffered from depression from 9yrs to 17, and now again from 19. I saw three mental health professionals during this time. Was prescribed Lexapro but I it made me throw up. Currently use Lunesta. Some Symptoms (I had to cut out more than half of this post + symptoms because of the character limit):
I think of dying every day. I’ve lost 13 pounds over two days from sheer depression.
When I turned 18, I experienced tourettes-like symptoms-->I have uncontrollable bursts of cursing/saying other weird nonsense several times a day + varying motor tics. Outbursts in class, around parents, in public, etc. I didn’t do this when I was younger.
I’m very paranoid and off emotionally. Have extreme emotional highs and lows that change quickly. Example=while at work the other day (I'm a cashier), I was helping to bag someone's groceries. Their yellow colored canvas bag made me really ecstatic. At the end of that day I was depressed, drugged, wanting to die. This is normal for me.
I’m very paranoid when others ignore me. I had plans to hang out with a friend, but he then said we couldn't hang out because hurt himself moving furniture. I got really depressed and assumed he lied so he wouldn't have to hang out with me. Also normal for me and I deal with thoughts like this every day constantly. Most of the time I feel extremely depressed or just so angry I could hurt someone. I also have pretty much every symptom of obsessive compulsive personality disorder.
What I’d like is help. I don’t have someone I can ask in real life for help. I don't know how to find a mental health professional. Thank you for your help.
You're welcome.
Not all psychologists are listed. In my country many are only registered through the psychology association. Some choose not to disclose information for safety reasons.
Private psychologists will generally advertise while public ones don't need to. With public staff you generally get what you're given with little room for flexibility.
Dr Gould included a web address in his post. You could start with that one.
He also indicated that the college counseling service would probably be best. I would trust him and start with that.
I'm hopeless with your education system and trying to compare it to our equivalent. Same with weights and measures. What's wrong with the metric system?
Anyway, there will probably be a medical center or at least someone to talk too.
The nurse should be a good resource. She should be up to date with what is and isn't available. If you get no luck there then check out the drug counseling -that's also appropriate in you case.
It's dangerous taking meds that haven't been prescribed for you.
I don't think your mother should be taking the samples home and I believe she should know better. I'm not attacking either you or your mother but I just think it's inappropriate. Especially as she has a child abusing drugs.
(It's interesting how people close to us don't see. That's why I like the internet, I can talk and people listen (maybe not all the time as my posts are boring but people are generally pretty empathetic and understanding)).
Take care and I hope you're able to find the support you need.
J
Not all psychologists are listed. In my country many are only registered through the psychology association. Some choose not to disclose information for safety reasons.
Private psychologists will generally advertise while public ones don't need to. With public staff you generally get what you're given with little room for flexibility.
Dr Gould included a web address in his post. You could start with that one.
He also indicated that the college counseling service would probably be best. I would trust him and start with that.
I'm hopeless with your education system and trying to compare it to our equivalent. Same with weights and measures. What's wrong with the metric system?
Anyway, there will probably be a medical center or at least someone to talk too.
The nurse should be a good resource. She should be up to date with what is and isn't available. If you get no luck there then check out the drug counseling -that's also appropriate in you case.
It's dangerous taking meds that haven't been prescribed for you.
I don't think your mother should be taking the samples home and I believe she should know better. I'm not attacking either you or your mother but I just think it's inappropriate. Especially as she has a child abusing drugs.
(It's interesting how people close to us don't see. That's why I like the internet, I can talk and people listen (maybe not all the time as my posts are boring but people are generally pretty empathetic and understanding)).
Take care and I hope you're able to find the support you need.
J
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The advice you received from Jaquta is exactly correct...I would only add that you can find a directory of mental services at psychologytoday.com. also, the very best resource is probably the college counseling service.
I'm based in northeast America. I wasn't aware that psychologists were listed in the phone book. Seems kinda obvious now that I think of it though. I'll look around for an online database now though, and next a phonebook.
I don't have a counselor at school. There may be one but I've never been introduced. I don't even have one that helped me choose classes. I'm an anomaly because I designed my own program. The college website isn't very helpful but I think I've seen a drug counseling office around campus, so I can try to find that. Or maybe just the nurse's will work.
As for my personal doctor, I rarely see them. I'm not actually prescribed Lunesta. My mom works in a medical profession and just brings lots of free samples home from work. Someone should use them after all, ha.
I appreciate your reply, thank you.
I don't have a counselor at school. There may be one but I've never been introduced. I don't even have one that helped me choose classes. I'm an anomaly because I designed my own program. The college website isn't very helpful but I think I've seen a drug counseling office around campus, so I can try to find that. Or maybe just the nurse's will work.
As for my personal doctor, I rarely see them. I'm not actually prescribed Lunesta. My mom works in a medical profession and just brings lots of free samples home from work. Someone should use them after all, ha.
I appreciate your reply, thank you.
Finding support can vary depending on which country you live in.
I entered the psych services through a referral from my GP.
With a history it is probably easier to self-refer.
There are a number of different options. Public vs private.
If you access the public mental health services there should be contact details available in your phone book.
Another option is to go through the hospital and they can direct you to support.
Another option would be to contact your local crisis hot-lines, etc and they also could offer advice. The quality of the service here can vary depending on the experience of the counselor. If you strike a good one you will receive good info.
If you're wanting to go private then again try the phone book. Generally you will need to look under either psychiatrist or psychologist, or counselor depending on who you're wanting to see.
In some countries they have data bases on therapists in certain regions. I'm not sure of the web address though.
Have you tried talking to your college counselor?
Like I said before, there are heaps of different options available to you. You need to decide which is most appropriate for you and your situation.
Another option would be to discuss this with the doctor who prescribed you the medication. Preferably a psychiatrist.
Good luck. Best wishes.
J
I entered the psych services through a referral from my GP.
With a history it is probably easier to self-refer.
There are a number of different options. Public vs private.
If you access the public mental health services there should be contact details available in your phone book.
Another option is to go through the hospital and they can direct you to support.
Another option would be to contact your local crisis hot-lines, etc and they also could offer advice. The quality of the service here can vary depending on the experience of the counselor. If you strike a good one you will receive good info.
If you're wanting to go private then again try the phone book. Generally you will need to look under either psychiatrist or psychologist, or counselor depending on who you're wanting to see.
In some countries they have data bases on therapists in certain regions. I'm not sure of the web address though.
Have you tried talking to your college counselor?
Like I said before, there are heaps of different options available to you. You need to decide which is most appropriate for you and your situation.
Another option would be to discuss this with the doctor who prescribed you the medication. Preferably a psychiatrist.
Good luck. Best wishes.
J
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