Background-Im a teenager who (i think, i cant see a shrink to find out for sure) suffers from manic depression. I will be near suicidal one day, next day be peachy, the next day be depressed but have a werid love/acceptice for the world…anyways:
My first question is, how can i see a shrink without my parents having to pay (which will piss them off…) further more, what will they ask (the shrink) and if he/she persribes antidressives, what would i hope to get? Whats the prices on those? I have no insurence or anything like that. I live in the west coast of washington if thats a help. Also, i want to know any side effects, like if I will get stupid on them or will my memory be affected? Thx in advance
My first thought is, if you have a real disorder, would your parents be oppossed to helping you? If you feel you can’t go to them and if you are in school, a school counselor may be your best ticket. However, this person may be obliged to tell your parents.
Check your yellow pages for Teen Counseling. If you are religious, talk with a priest/rabbi/whatever. There are also free clinics who may see psychiatric patients. I had a friend in college who was manic depressive, it’s nothing to take lightly.
Andyman,
The thing is, I’ve told them several times I need help, I told them I feel nicely numb somtimes, othertimes on the verge of crying at every other second. I’ve been like this for about 3 years (Im 16 now) and its hurt my school some, I still do okie (gpa 2.7) but its hard to do your work when the only thing you can think about is how you hate the way you feel, which is retoracal on its self…anyways, when i tell them they give me this big long speal about how they cant afford it (which is bullshit all in its own) then they play this guilt trip (oh we work so hard why cant u just be happy) and im like, you know, i wish i could…more then u imagie…anyways…yeah…so if anyone has info for me id be grateful…
Candyboi, I can’t help you out tonight; I have several friends who are psychologists and one who is a psychiatrist. I can’t reach anyone on the phone tonight, but I left a message with a (psychologist) very good friend’s service, and she will call me at the office tomorrow and probably be able to advise me as to your options (she and I are in Texas and I see that you’re in Washington - so, probably some differences in specifics, but I think she’ll have a good handle on what you can do).
Hang in there, pal, I’ll get back to you sometime tomorrow.
Somebody else may happen along who can provide answers before then.
I don’t know about meds, but there are organizations that will help you gratis with counseling. I expect they would have psychiatrists or psychologists who can help with a diagnosis and anything accompanying treatment. The first and most important thing is to get in touch with someone you can talk to and who can help you. No point in worrying about possible medication before that because you may or may not need it.
Check your local Community Services pages in the phone book under ‘health care’ or ‘crisis intervention.’
I found some numbers in an old training booklet, but they’re mostly long distance for you, I don’t know why they’re not 1-800 numbers:
Youth Emotions Anonymous: 1-612-647-9712
American Association of Suicide: 1-303-692-0985
New Life Clinics: 1-800-639-5433
It sounds like beatle’s got a good handle on what to do.
I just got off the phone with my friend the psychologist. Something that clearly colors the whole approach to your situation is the fact that you’re a minor. If you are truly bipolar, and nobody with any decent judgement is going to attempt diagnosis on a message board, treatment will likely involve medication. There are almost no treatment options open to you without parental consent. If you were an emancipated minor it would be a little bit different situation, but still, not much better. And, you may well not require medication.
I get the feeling, perhaps wrongly, that we’re not talking about a midnight crisis here; that is to say you seem to be clear sighted enough to realize that some long term solutions would be best for you. In reality, I know next to nothing about your situation. While your parents are apparently reluctant to engage a therapist, my friend and I thought it possible that they would not object to you seeing your regular physician (perhaps on a pretense, if need be). If your physician has some familiarity with mental health concerns, he or she may recognize whether or not treatment may benefit you, or may at least be able to direct you toward a practioner who may be better able to help you.
Most importantly, your physician may be able to provide the critical communication to your parents to the effect that some course of action is necessary. So, make an appointment with your doctor.
Good luck, man! Check in with us in a bit and let us know how it’s going.
CandyBoi: I think you may be able to get some kind of help at your age without parental consent. Though I highly doubt you’d be able to get medication without their consent, I think counselling would be available. When I was 16 I was suffering from severe depression, and I went to counselling without parental consent (I was in college and my parents didn’t know what was going on) so I think that option may be available to you, if you have transport.
Hang in there. And keep looking for help–I know it’s difficult to be motivated when you’re feeling low. Keep in touch with us all at SDMB.
** CandyBoi ** Hon, please check out your phone book, usually in the front there are phone numbers that you can use to connect you to treatment, usually through your local county government. Also, call your local hospitals, and see if there are group treatments at lower cost that you could check into.
Being a parent, I know how tunnel visioned we can get at times, just don’t give up so easily on yourself, or your parents either, they may just need to understand, it isn’t THEIR fault, that this many times is a chemical imbalance that it is NO ONE’S fault, including YOURS. But, just like any illness, it still needs to be taken care of, okay?
Hang in there and let us know how you’re doing.
beatle, have I told you lately, how neat you are? *
Being the son of a certified Psyche, I may be able to determine what needs to be done. First off, what is it that puts you in these suicidal moods? There are no stupid answers here. Every little thing could lead up to the meaning. It might be the kind of foods you eat, whether you are physically feeling well or not, or if it is after preforming certain activities.
I thank you all for helping me with this. I belive after the office isent so busty (school starting, scudule changes) Im going to see the school counsler, even if they tell my parents, i cant go on this way.
mike
Good for you, Mike!! You may have to keep trying, don’t let one ‘no’ get you down, or slow your efforts to get yourself some help.
If it gets too hard, you know, * one of THOSE kinds of days * then call the operator on your phone and just tell HER, (or HIM) and they can connect you to someone just to talk.
I’d have to say that seeing the school counselor as soon as possible is your best bet for three reasons.
(1) You need someone to talk to and this person is presumably trained in talking to troubled high school students.
(2) He or she will know of any local groups that can help you out either through actual psychological help or else a more relaxed group therapy thing.
(3) Even if he or she does tell your parents, perhaps it will help your parents see that you are serious about your problem and not just bitching or using it as an excuse. By taking some sort of step, you’ll be proving that you’re not looking for an easy reason to be moody but are actually concerned about your own mental health.
