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Mental Health

Hi. I'm not quite sure how to write this, but I feel so down lately. I feel as though everyone is against me. I hate myself SO much I want to cry or scream or just harm myself in some way. All my life I've felt this way. I have a fantastic girlfriend who supports me but I can't tell her anything (or, I don't want to). I have no friends. My mum told me that now I have a girlfriend, I'm not supposed to have any and that my commitment should be to my girlfriend. I'm so unhappy. What do I do? Thanks.

Hi and thanks for getting in contact with us. It sounds like you have been having a difficult time. It is wonderful that you have a girlfriend in your life, but having a good social network of friends and loving family is important too. If you have been feeling depressed all your life, then maybe it would be useful to explore what that is about and how it is like for you? Some things that can be part of having depression include: Having an unusually sad mood that does not go away. Having a loss of enjoyment and interest in activities that used to be enjoyable. Feeling tired and lacking in energy. Having less confidence in yourself than usual, or poor self-esteem. Feeling guilty when you're not at fault. Wishing you were dead. Having difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Moving more slowly or, sometimes becoming agitated and restless. Having sleeping difficulties or, sometimes, sleeping too much. Having less interest in food than usual, or, sometimes eating too much. If you think you might be depressed, you should seek help from your GP or another appropriate health professional. Good luck and take care. Need more info? Links For more info, check out beyondblue (about depression) and Secret Shame (about self-harm). To find a GP (doctor/medical practitioner) in your area, visit Sydney Medical Practitioners. Need more help? If you need to speak to someone right now, call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. To find a health service or support group in your state or territory, search the help & support services directory. The above information has been reproduced from Somazone with permission from the Australian Drug Foundation. www.somazone.com.au Australian Drug Foundation 2009

I self-harm and i am thinking about committing suicide soon...i don't know what else to do. Please help?!

Hi and thanks for your question. It's often really hard to be honest about self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and you've very brave to have shared this. Self-harm is often a strategy that people use to deal with emotions and feelings that are really hard—it can be a way of releasing tension. There are all sorts of reasons why people self-harm, and it doesn't always mean that the person who is harming him or herself wants to die. The most important thing to remember is that it's not the only way of coping with your feelings—there are lots of other things that you can do to express your emotions and help yourself feel better without hurting yourself. You can try a few things like writing your thoughts down, distracting yourself with a DVD or movie, going for a run or exercise, and especially telling someone you trust about how you feel. It's important to know that the thoughts that you have about hurting yourself and about taking your life are just thoughts. Just because they come into your head doesn't mean that they will come true, and it doesn't mean that you have to act on them. No matter how strong they are or how often you have them, it doesn't mean that you'll always have thoughts like this. A lot of people have feelings like this, because everyone has tough times and bad experiences. You can get through this, and there are lots of things that can help you. You've made a really good step by asking your question here. That's a brave thing to do, and I hope that we can help you out. Often it's really good to talk to somebody about what's on your mind—is there an adult that you trust that you could confide your feelings to? If there isn't anyone that you can think of, the Kids Help Line (1800 55 1800) is a fantastic place to call and talk about things with. You can call them any time at all and you don't even have to tell them your name, but they can give you a lot of support and even tell you about places near where you live where you can talk to someone in person. I think that it would really help you to talk to a counsellor or youth worker about the things you are thinking and feeling, so that you don't feel so sad and alone. There is a lot of help out there for you, and you've made a really good step so far. Take care of yourself, and stay safe.The above information has been reproduced from Somazone with permission from the Australian Drug Foundation. www.somazone.com.au Australian Drug Foundation 2009

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